Former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has voiced significant concerns about Nigeria’s political landscape, warning that its democracy is gravitating towards a one-party state under the All Progressives Congress (APC). During an interactive session with the APC’s National Working Committee and the Former Ministers’ Forum, Aliyu highlighted the alarming decrease in the influence of opposition parties and the ruling party’s aggressive strategies to solidify its power.
Aliyu noted a troubling trend of defections from opposition parties to the APC, which he argues are often coerced rather than voluntary. He emphasized that the erosion of opposition figures and the weaponization of state power to suppress dissent are signs of this concerning shift. He proclaimed, “We observe with alarm the aggressive maneuvers by the ruling APC to obliterate the opposition.”
Aliyu stressed the necessity of a strong opposition to maintain a healthy democracy, expressing optimism in the leadership of the newly elected PDP National Working Committee, led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki. He described the PDP as evolving rather than dead, commending Turaki’s initiatives to reinvigorate the party.
PDP National Chairman Turaki highlighted the party’s past governance achievements, citing it as a yardstick for national development, including telecom liberalization and debt clearance. Former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau encouraged the new committee, asserting, “Don’t relent; you have done more than expected.”
These discussions are intensified by Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s recent claim about the diminishing presence of opposition in the National Assembly, further fueling concerns about the state of Nigeria’s democracy. The evolving political situation raises critical debates about the health of multi-party systems in Nigeria, with stakeholders urging the preservation of democratic values.
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