A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has warned against attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, cautioning that such a move would undermine democracy and ultimately fail.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, Momodu alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress had miscalculated by assuming that key opposition figures would not unite ahead of future elections.
According to him, the APC believed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso would never work together, a position he described as a major political misjudgment.
“The truth is, they first allowed the ADC to remain untouched, hoping that Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Kwankwaso would never come together. It was a miscalculation,” he said.
Momodu further accused the ruling party of attempting to weaken opposition parties by creating internal crises, pointing to what he described as the swift recognition of factions within the Peoples’ Democratic Party as evidence.
He also raised concerns about the growing role of the judiciary in electoral matters, alleging that some government officials were trying to exert influence over the courts as part of a broader political strategy.
“High-level government officials are investing heavily in the judiciary. When you weaponise poverty, people are reduced to depending on handouts,” he said.
Momodu warned that efforts to concentrate power in a single party or individual could have long-term consequences for the country’s democratic system.
“It is shocking that anyone would want to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state or one-man rule. It may take time, but it will not succeed,” he added.
He maintained that opposition figures are increasingly finding common ground, stressing that political alliances are likely to strengthen in response to perceived threats to democratic competition.
Credit: punchng.com
