A coalition of 17 prominent Nigerians, including Chidi Odinkalu, Babafemi Ojudu, and Richard Akinnola, has issued a stark warning about what they describe as a growing erosion of democratic values under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a joint statement titled “Defending Democracy: A Call to Resist the March Toward a One-Party State in Nigeria,” the group accused the Tinubu administration of undermining Nigeria’s multi-party system through tactics such as bribery, coercion, and blackmail aimed at forcing opposition members to join the ruling party.
“A democracy without opposition is not a democracy,” the statement declared, emphasizing that the misuse of state institutions for partisan objectives poses a serious threat to both democratic integrity and public trust.
The signatories cautioned that silencing dissent and consolidating political power could pave the way for unchecked governance and a slide into authoritarian rule. “We didn’t fight to end military dictatorship only to replace it with civilian tyranny,” they said.
They urged President Tinubu to recommit to democratic principles and immediately cease actions that intimidate or suppress opposition voices. The preservation of Nigeria’s multi-party system, they stressed, is essential for transparency, accountability, and the health of the nation’s democracy.
The statement was endorsed by Richard Akinnola, Abdul Mahmud, Dr. Sam Amadi, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), Nnimmo Bassey, Adeola Soetan, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha, Uzodinma Uwaogbe, Mma Odi, Osa Director, Prof. Adele Jinadu, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Abubakar Siddique Mohammed, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Chief Tola Adeniyi, Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, and Olufemi Adegbulugbe.
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