Ignore Alarmists, Democracy Alive In Nigeria – Presidency Reaffirms

The Presidency has dismissed concerns raised by opposition figures and civil society actors over the recent wave of defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC), affirming that democracy remains vibrant and unhindered in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Saturday, April 27, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described the criticisms as “alarmist” and rooted in “falsehood and political desperation.”

Onanuga noted that the political landscape has experienced significant realignments, citing the open declaration of support for President Tinubu by Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former PDP Vice Presidential candidate Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and other political heavyweights in Delta and Rivers States.

“The seismic shift certainly threw the opposition and their sympathisers into disarray,” Onanuga said. “While their heartbreak is understandable given the collapse of their so-called grand coalition, it is disturbing that they have resorted to peddling unfounded claims that President Tinubu seeks to create a one-party state.”

The statement emphatically refuted allegations that democracy is under threat, branding accusations of authoritarianism, bribery, blackmail, and coercion as “baseless” and “products of idle imagination.”

“There is no policy, official action, or directive from the Presidency aimed at weakening the opposition or promoting authoritarianism,” Onanuga stressed. “Freedom of association, speech, and choice are alive and thriving under President Tinubu.”

He criticised the “hypocrisy” of opposition elements who celebrated former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) while crying foul over political shifts favouring the APC.

Onanuga argued that the movement of politicians across party lines is a hallmark of democracy and not peculiar to Nigeria, highlighting that advanced democracies have witnessed similar realignments.

“It is a gross disservice to democracy for emergency defenders of democracy to delegitimise the free choices of Nigerians supporting Tinubu and the APC, while applauding anti-Tinubu coalitions,” he said.

The Presidency lauded President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee, led by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, for making the ruling party “viable and attractive” to Nigerians across the country.

“President Tinubu’s democratic credentials are impeccable. His role in building opposition forces that defeated a sitting President in 2015 is a testament to his belief in multiparty democracy,” the statement added.

Onanuga called on Nigerians to unite in defending democracy by respecting the political choices of all citizens and urged the public to ignore alarmists “drawing narratives from the pool of fiction.”

“Under President Tinubu, democracy is strong, and the multiparty system will continue to flourish unhindered,” he declared.