Nigeria: President Bola Tinubu accused of wanting to establish a single party
Open letter from civil society denounces authoritarian drift
On April 27, 2025, eighteen figures from Nigerian civil society, including senators, professors and NGO directors, published an open letter accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of seeking to establish “a single party” in the country.
According to them, the recent waves of rallies of members of the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the result of political pressure and intimidation orchestrated by the powers that be.
They denounce a systematic strategy aimed at “dismantling democracy” and establishing a regime without political pluralism, notably by using the threat of anti-corruption investigations to bend opponents.
Multiple defections in strategic southern states
The departure of the governor of Delta State to the APC has rekindled tensions, in a context where the Rivers region is already under direct administration from Abuja following the introduction of the state of emergency.
Since his election in 2023, Bola Tinubu has gradually strengthened his grip on several states in the oil-rich south, notably Edo, Rivers and Delta, taking advantage of the PDP’s internal divisions.
The recent defection of the governor of Delta and the support shown by former rebel leader Tompolo illustrate the president’s ability to turn former political adversaries in his favor.
The presidency denies any drift, invoking the “strength of democracy”.
In response to the accusations, a presidential spokesman firmly rejected allegations of “corruption, blackmail and manipulation of institutions”, asserting that Nigerian democracy remains “strong and alive”.
According to the official version, the successive rallies were the result of the voluntary support of political players for the reforms initiated by Bola Tinubu.
The press release invites us to “ignore the alarmists” and defends the legitimacy of the political choices made in the southern states.
Conclusion
The proliferation of political alliances in Nigeria is raising serious concerns about the future of democratic pluralism in the country. Accused of centralizing power around the APC, President Bola Tinubu continues his political consolidation, at the risk of undermining the checks and balances essential to a balanced democracy.
