NIGERIA: Democracy Day: Tinubu Rules Out One-Party State

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has firmly dismissed fears that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party system under his watch, declaring that he will never support or encourage such a political structure.

Speaking during a special joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate Democracy Day 2025, Tinubu assured lawmakers and Nigerians that pluralism remains central to the country’s democratic identity.

In a spirited address that recalled his own role in resisting authoritarian rule, the president rejected what he described as a “terrible rumour” being peddled by political opponents.

He stated that he has no interest in altering party registrations or silencing opposition voices, noting that such attempts had failed in the past and would never define Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Referring to his tenure as the last standing opposition governor in the southwest during the early 2000s, Tinubu said his personal history proves his commitment to multiparty democracy.

He described any plot to create a single-party system as “political overreach” and pledged never to repeat the mistakes of the past.

While welcoming new defectors into the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu encouraged rival political parties to focus on reforming their internal structures instead of accusing his government of political intimidation. “I will not help you do so. It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray,” he said.

The president’s declaration comes amid growing defections to the APC and fears from opposition quarters that political diversity in Nigeria is under threat.

Tinubu’s assurance signals a political stance that may ease tensions and reinforce public trust in Nigeria’s evolving democratic institutions.