Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised alarm over what he described as a growing threat to Nigeria’s democratic system, accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of deliberately undermining opposition parties and narrowing the country’s democratic space.
In a statement issued yesterday and signed by his spokesman, Mr Paul Ibe, Atiku said Nigeria was sliding toward a dangerous path that could culminate in a de facto one-party state if current political trends persist.
He argued that democracy thrives on plurality, competition and accountability, warning that the erosion of these principles would have grave consequences for the nation.
The former vice president noted that Nigerians have endured nearly three years of what he termed severe economic hardship under the Tinubu-led government.
He linked the economic challenges to policy choices that, in his view, have worsened living conditions while diverting public attention from what he described as calculated political actions aimed at weakening opposition voices.
According to Atiku, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted a strategy that blends tough economic decisions with political manoeuvring designed to neutralise credible opposition parties.
He claimed this approach was gradually tilting the political landscape in favour of the APC, making it dominant “by default, not by merit.”
Atiku cautioned that the concentration of political power in the hands of one party poses a serious risk to democratic governance, stressing that Nigeria’s stability depends on the protection of democratic institutions and the freedom of political participation.
He urged Nigerians, civil society groups and the international community to remain vigilant, insisting that safeguarding democracy requires collective action and a commitment to upholding constitutional values and the rule of law.
