One-Party State Dangerous for Nigeria – Jonathan Warns

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised concerns over what he described as a dangerous trend toward a one-party state in Nigeria, warning that such a development could destabilise the country’s democratic foundations. Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during a memorial lecture in honour of the late elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark, Jonathan cautioned that any shift toward single-party dominance through political manipulation would threaten national unity.

He acknowledged that while some countries had successfully operated one-party systems under specific historical contexts, Nigeria’s complex mix of ethnicities, religions, and political interests made it unsuitable for such a structure unless carefully planned by experts. “If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, then it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are going in for,” Jonathan said. “But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for crisis.”

Jonathan’s remarks came amid widespread defections of opposition figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking fears of declining political pluralism. Notable among these defections are Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, former running mate to PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar. Some PDP governors, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and Ademola Adeleke of Osun, are also believed to be backing President Bola Tinubu’s second term ambition.

Jonathan urged Clark’s family to establish an annual lecture in his memory, saying the late elder statesman stood for a united, equitable, and prosperous Nigeria. He further referenced former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, who used a one-party model to stabilise a deeply divided country after independence, stressing that it was a deliberate and transparent decision.

Also speaking at the event, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon underscored the need to prioritise national interest above personal ambition, while Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, described Nigeria’s unity as fragile and in need of deliberate preservation.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi took a harsher tone, saying the sacrifices of Nigeria’s past heroes had already been betrayed by worsening insecurity, rural poverty, and inflation. “The labour of our heroes past is already in vain,” Obi declared.

Concerns over the nation’s political direction have been echoed by a group of 18 activists and intellectuals operating under the banner of “Democrats,” who accused the Tinubu administration of systematically dismantling democratic institutions to enforce de facto one-party rule. Political analyst Ikoro N. Ikoro warned that if development is tied to APC membership, it would undermine constitutional guarantees and equity.

However, not all share the alarm. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Dayo Akinlaja noted that political dynamics in Nigeria remain fluid, urging patience until the 2027 elections to see how the political landscape evolves.

In response to mounting criticism, the Presidency dismissed allegations of authoritarianism. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the mass defections were voluntary and reflective of confidence in the administration’s reforms. He argued that President Tinubu is under no obligation to organise or strengthen opposition parties, and that democracy is not threatened simply because politicians are switching allegiance.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, in a recent comment, also rejected claims of a one-party drift, attributing the influx to the APC as a result of the party’s performance and President Tinubu’s reform agenda. He stated, “I don’t believe, by the slightest of imagination, that we are going to be a one-party state.”