By Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
Okoi Obono-Obla, a former senior presidential aide and prominent legal practitioner, has firmly rejected ongoing assertions by opposition political parties that Nigeria is gradually evolving into a one-party state, describing such claims as unsubstantiated alarmism being orchestrated by political actors to distract the country.
His assertion followed former President Goodluck Jonathan’s warning that a one-party system poses a danger to Nigeria’s democracy.
Recent months have seen a wave of defections from opposition parties, including governors, federal and state lawmakers, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), fueling fears of diminishing political competition.
But Obono-Obla, a lawyer and former chairman of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel, argued that the opposition’s struggles stem from poor organisation, not an unfair system.
In a sharp rebuke, Obono-Obla said, “Your assertion that there is a drift toward a one-party system is inaccurate. There is no legislation in Nigeria legitimizing a one-party state. Our country operates under a multi-party constitutional and legal framework.”
He challenged opposition parties to take responsibility for their decline, stating, “It is unrealistic to expect any political party to manage the affairs of its rivals. Every political party in Nigeria is free to govern itself, organize its activities, and compete effectively in elections.”
Recalling his own experience in opposition politics, Obono-Obla noted that between 1999 and 2015, the APC (then in opposition) worked strategically to defeat the then-dominant Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“We did not resign ourselves to self-pity, waiting for the government in power to organize us. Instead, we worked tirelessly until we were able to defeat the ruling party and secure victory,” he said.
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