Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has warned against efforts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, saying such a move would weaken democracy and ultimately fail.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, Momodu alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress had misjudged the political landscape by assuming key opposition leaders would not unite ahead of future elections.
According to him, the APC believed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso would never work together, a position he described as a major miscalculation.
“The truth is, they first allowed the ADC to remain untouched, hoping that Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Kwankwaso would never come together. It was a miscalculation,” he said.
Momodu further accused the ruling party of trying to weaken opposition parties by creating internal crises, pointing to the rapid recognition of factions within the Peoples Democratic Party as evidence.
He also expressed concern over the growing involvement of the judiciary in electoral matters, claiming some government officials were seeking to influence the courts as part of a broader political strategy.
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“High-level government officials are investing heavily in the judiciary. When you weaponise poverty, people are reduced to depending on handouts,” he said.
Momodu cautioned that concentrating power in a single party or individual could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democracy.
“It is shocking that anyone would want to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state or one-man rule. It may take time, but it will not succeed,” he added.
He emphasized that opposition figures are increasingly finding common ground, suggesting that political alliances are likely to grow stronger in response to perceived threats to democratic competition.