We must resist Tinubu’s one-party state agenda — Akinnola, Odinkalu, Jinadu, others

Tinubu

LEADING civil society activists in Nigeria yesterday expressed concerns over what they described as a calculated and systematic effort by the present administration to dismantle democratic foundations and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.

The activists, who vowed to resist the move, said that a democracy without opposition is not a democracy.
They also expressed worry over the weaponisation of state institutions for partisan gain, saying it undermines the “integrity of our democracy.”

A statement titled ‘Defending democracy: A call to resist a one-party state in Nigeria’, was signed by Richard Akinnola, Abdul Mahmud, Dr Sam Amadi, Auwa Ibrahim Musa (Rasfajani), Nnimmo Bassey, Adeola Soetan, Uche Onyeagucha, Uzodinma Uwaogbe, Mma Odi, Osa Director, Prof Adele Jinadu, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Abubakar Siddique, Mohammed, Prof Chidi Odinkalu, ` Tola Adeniyi, Dr Jibrin Ibrahim and Olufemi Adegbulugbe.

The statement reads: “Fellow Nigerians, friends of democracy, we, the undersigned democrats, raise our voices in alarm and solidarity at this critical hour in the life of our nation. Nigeria’s democracy—hard-won through decades of struggle, sacrifice, and steadfast resistance against authoritarian rule—is under grave threat.

“We are witnessing, with increasing dismay, a calculated and systematic effort by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to dismantle the democratic foundations of our republic and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.

“Under this administration, political pluralism is being eroded not by persuasion or performance, but by bribery, blackmail, and coercion. Serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and key opposition figures are decamping en masse to the ruling party, not out of conviction, but out of fear and pressure. The pattern is disturbingly clear: an invitation by the EFCC for questioning on financial impropriety is swiftly followed by political capitulation. This weaponization of state institutions for partisan gain corrodes public trust and undermines the integrity of our democracy.