The Presidency has dismissed as “alarmist” and “baseless” claims by opposition figures and rights advocates that recent defections of key opposition members to the All Progressives Congress (APC) signal a drift towards a one-party state. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, stated that the movement of prominent politicians like Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and former Vice Presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa has understandably unsettled the opposition.
Onanuga countered allegations of coercion or bribery, asserting that these defections reflect the free will of individuals who believe in President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda. He emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy remains robust, with freedom of association and speech fully intact, evidenced by the opposition’s ability to openly criticize the government. The Presidency finds it hypocritical that the same individuals now decrying a one-party state previously celebrated the formation of an anti-Tinubu coalition.
The statement stressed that it is not the President’s responsibility to strengthen opposition parties, and their organizational shortcomings should not be blamed on the APC. Onanuga highlighted President Tinubu’s long-standing democratic credentials, including his role in building opposition platforms that ultimately led to the defeat of a sitting president.
The Presidency urged Nigerians to respect the political choices of their fellow citizens and disregard what it termed “fictional narratives” from alarmists. It reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to a thriving multiparty democracy, emphasizing that the ongoing political shifts are a natural part of the democratic process, not a threat to it.
