Opposition Leaders Sound Alarm, Accuse Tinubu of Pushing Nigeria Toward a One-Party State

Leading opposition figures in Nigeria have issued a stern warning that the country’s democratic space is shrinking under President Bola Tinubu, alleging a calculated strategy to tilt Nigeria toward a one-party system ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a joint statement on Sunday, prominent leaders including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi accused the administration of using state institutions—particularly anti-graft and security agencies—as tools for political intimidation against opposition figures. They claimed this poses a grave threat to the nation’s democratic foundations.

The statement, also signed by former Senate President David Mark and other senior politicians, alleges a “covert, undemocratic agenda” to bring all state governments under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not through fair elections, but by pressuring opposition governors with investigations.

The leaders singled out the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that it pursues cases against opposition figures aggressively while overlooking allegations against ruling party members, a practice they say erodes public trust.

To counter this, they proposed urgent reforms to depoliticize the EFCC, including the creation of an independent panel to review all government accounts from 2015 to 2025. They also announced plans to engage international partners to draw attention to what they describe as the dangerous politicization of key institutions.