Nigeria Slides into One-Party State as Ruling APC Gains Ground

Strategic Insights -

As President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to consolidate power, Nigeria is gradually slipping into a de facto one-party state. The evidence is in the growing number of defectors from the opposition parties, who are citing "fragmentation" and "division" as their reasons for joining the ruling party. However, critics argue that the APC is orchestrating internal crises within the opposition parties to facilitate defections.

Key Takeaways:

  • The APC has gained control of key states, including Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Delta, through a wave of defections from the opposition parties.
  • Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has announced his decision to allow Tinubu to control his government, effectively surrendering his autonomy.
  • The APC has been accused of using state resources to swell its ranks, forcing opposition parties to disintegrate.
  • The ruling party has been criticized for its role in orchestrating internal crises within opposition parties to facilitate defections.
  • Senator Godswill Akpabio has defended Tinubu's actions, stating that he is transforming Nigeria despite opposition.
  • President of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio, has praised Tinubu, saying the Nigerian parliament is "very proud" of him.
  • Human rights activist Mike Ozekhome has warned that Nigeria is "gradually driving towards a one-party state," where dictatorship reigns supreme.
  • The World Bank's 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief reported a huge rise in poverty in Nigeria, with 75.5% of rural dwellers and 41.3% of urban dwellers living below the poverty line.

Statistics:

  • 75.5% of rural dwellers in Nigeria live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank's 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief.
  • 41.3% of urban dwellers in Nigeria live below the poverty line, according to the World Bank's 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief.
  • The number of multidimensional poor Nigerians is increasing, according to Professor Mojubaolu Okome.

Sources:

  • "Nigeria is being driven towards a one-party state, human rights activist Mike Ozekhome has warned." (_ThisDay_, June 10, 2025)
  • "The Nigerian parliament is very proud of [Bola Tinubu]," President of the Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said on June 10, 2025, during the commissioning of the newly renovated International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja. (_Leadership Newspaper_, June 10, 2025)
  • "A huge rise in poverty in Nigeria," World Bank's 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief reported. (_ThisDay_, June 10, 2025)
  • "75.5% of rural dwellers in Nigeria live below the poverty line," World Bank's 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief reported. (_ThisDay_, June 10, 2025)
  • "41.3% of urban dwellers in Nigeria live below the poverty line," World Bank's 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief reported. (_ThisDay_, June 10, 2025)
  • "One-party state is not suitable for democracy," Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria, said in a Democracy Day speech at the National Assembly on June 12, 2025. (_ThisDay_, June 12, 2025)
  • "Anything you need to do to ensure you become competitive, you must also be able to do so," APC National Secretary, Dr. AjibolaBasiru, said recently. (_Leadership Newspaper_, June 10, 2025)