The Presidency’s recent rebuttal marks a significant moment in the ongoing tension between Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and various opposition factions.
​As of April 2026, the administration has doubled down on its stance that the fragmentation of the opposition is a “self-inflicted” wound caused by poor organizational discipline rather than state-sponsored sabotage.
​Special advisers to the President, including statements echoed by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, have framed the situation around three main points.
The Presidency argues that parties struggling with internal disputes and leadership tussles (affecting approximately 20 registered parties) are proving they are not yet prepared for national leadership.
The administration has urged opposition leaders to stop “resorting to sentiment” or blame games and instead focus on building robust grassroots structures.
President Tinubu has publicly denied any intent to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, calling the notion “bad for Nigeria” and asserting that he remains a “die-hard democrat” committed to a multi-party system.
Conversely, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have accused the government of alleging that law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies are used selectively against opposition members. Claiming the APC is using “compromised mechanisms” to lure high-profile opposition governors and lawmakers into the ruling party.
Much of the current heat stems from the Electoral Act 2026, which includes new provisions on candidate selection and limits the courts’ ability to intervene in internal party affairs a move the opposition views as a strategy to stifle dissent.
While the Presidency maintains that it is merely a spectator to the opposition’s “internal implosions,” the opposition is increasingly discussing a coalition to counter what they describe as “creeping totalitarianism” ahead of the next major election cycle.
