The Presidency has strongly dismissed claims that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat following a wave of high-profile defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that “democracy is strong and alive” under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the government rebuked what it described as “alarming propaganda” orchestrated by disillusioned opposition figures and partisan human rights activists. The statement particularly referenced the recent political shift in Delta State, where key figures like Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former governor Ifeanyi Okowa crossed over to the APC, leaving the opposition “heartbroken and disoriented.”
The Presidency labelled accusations of plans to establish a one-party state as “baseless and exaggerated,” insisting that no official policy or action seeks to undermine democratic principles.
“Freedom of association, freedom of speech, and freedom of choice are fundamental ideals of democracy,” the statement asserted, noting that the right to join any political party must be respected.
Onanuga criticized opposition parties for their internal disorganization and warned against delegitimizing the political choices of citizens who voluntarily support President Tinubu’s reform agenda.
“It is not President Tinubu’s job to organize or strengthen opposition parties,” he said.
Highlighting President Tinubu’s long-standing democratic credentials, the statement reminded Nigerians of his pivotal role in building opposition platforms that once unseated a sitting President.
“His administration remains committed to strengthening the multiparty democratic system that has been the bedrock of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic since 1999,” Onanuga added.
Calling for national unity, the Presidency urged Nigerians to reject “alarmist narratives rooted in fiction” and to support ongoing reforms aimed at securing a better future for the country.
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