Top opposition figures in Nigeria have raised fresh concerns over what they describe as a calculated move by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to weaken opposition parties and tilt the country toward a one-party system ahead of the 2027 general election.
The leaders, drawn from different political blocs, warned that democratic space is shrinking and alleged that state institutions are being used to apply pressure on political opponents, especially influential figures outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a joint statement released on Sunday, the opposition figures said Nigeria is witnessing a dangerous pattern where anti-corruption and security agencies are increasingly seen by the public as partisan tools rather than neutral institutions established to uphold justice and the rule of law.
The statement was signed by former Senate President David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi; former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George; former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and Mallam Lawal Batagarawa.
According to them, the trend poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic foundations and could undermine public confidence in governance if left unchecked.
“We are compelled by duty to nation and conscience to alert our compatriots and the international community to the unfortunate and gradual slide of our country into a state where key national institutions are increasingly perceived as tools of political intimidation, selective justice and systematic persecution of opposition leaders,” they said.
The opposition leaders alleged that there is a quiet but deliberate strategy to bring all state governments under the control of the ruling party. They claimed this is not being done through fair political competition, but through pressure allegedly exerted using anti-graft investigations and security threats.
They further stated that opposition governors and major political stakeholders are the main targets, adding that the recent wave of defections to the APC has deepened public suspicion that coercion, not ideology, is driving the political realignments.
“More than ever before in our democratic experience, Nigerians have witnessed what many now describe as a covert, undemocratic agenda to ensure that all state governments fall under the control of the President’s party, not through transparent electoral contests, but by intimidating opposition governors via the anti-corruption apparatus,” the statement said.
The leaders warned that the alleged intimidation is not limited to serving governors. They claimed it also affects key opposition figures currently involved in talks aimed at building coalitions ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the situation as a looming danger to Nigeria’s plural democracy.
They accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of being especially vulnerable to political influence, alleging that corruption cases involving members of the ruling party often stall, while allegations against opposition figures are pursued aggressively and amplified in the media.
“Allegations against members of the ruling party are routinely perceived to be overlooked, while even unsubstantiated accusations against opposition figures are vigorously pursued and subjected to media trial,” they alleged.
The statement also recalled comments previously made by a former APC national chairman, who suggested that defectors’ ‘sins’ were forgiven once they joined the ruling party. The opposition leaders said the remark has since become symbolic of what many Nigerians see as selective application of anti-corruption laws.
They warned that such practices weaken the credibility of the anti-graft campaign, erode trust in public institutions, and could fuel political tension as the country moves closer to another election cycle.
“An agency designed for prevention and accountability risks becoming an instrument of political persecution, undermining both justice and democracy. Evident social and political injustice could snowball into mayhem as the nation approaches another election cycle,” they said.
As part of their recommendations, the opposition figures called for urgent reforms to depoliticise the EFCC and restore its focus to its original mandate. They stressed the need for safeguards to prevent Nigeria from drifting into what they described as a de facto one-party state.
They proposed deploying anti-graft operatives directly into government payment and expenditure systems at federal, state, and local government levels, citing a Supreme Court ruling that affirms the EFCC’s authority to oversee public accounts.
The leaders also demanded the creation of an independent body to review the public accounts of the federal government, states, and local councils from 2015 to 2025. They said the body should have the power to publish its findings and recommend legal reforms to strengthen the EFCC Act.
According to them, the proposed review panel should be chaired by a respected judge and include representatives from civil society groups, professional bodies, security agencies, anti-corruption institutions, and all political parties represented in the National Assembly.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us, not to a single party or a single leader. We must make a deliberate choice not to be remembered by posterity for our silence,” the statement reiterated.
The opposition leaders also disclosed plans to engage Nigeria’s international partners and diplomatic missions in the coming weeks.
According to them, the goal is to draw attention to what they described as the growing politicisation of anti-graft institutions and to push for reforms aimed at protecting Nigeria’s democracy.
ATIKU AND OBI SHOULD RUN TOGETHER AND TINUBU WILL BE A PUSH OVER