Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has reacted to the recent political realignment by opposition leaders into the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a healthy development for Nigeria’s democracy.
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Speaking to journalists after casting his vote in the Lagos State local government elections in Surulere on Saturday, Gbajabiamila said the formation of a united opposition was necessary to prevent Nigeria from descending into a one-party system, but remained skeptical about its future.
“It’s a welcome development with the coalition. It’s not the first time we’re seeing this. In every democracy, we must have some level of opposition otherwise we’ll run into a one-party state. But I’m not sure where it would go,” he stated.
His remarks follow the unveiling of the ADC by opposition figures including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and others, who plan to use the platform to unseat President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
The coalition has sparked varied reactions. While some political analysts see it as a potential game-changer capable of challenging the APC’s dominance, others question the cohesion and long-term viability of the alliance.
Gbajabiamila also shared his impressions of the local government elections, expressing satisfaction with the peaceful conduct but disappointment at the low voter turnout.
“So far, I’ve seen peace, I’ve seen quiet, I’ve seen free and fair election. A little bit disappointed about the turnout which is where we need to work on,” he said.
“Perhaps because people don’t understand fully the importance of local government elections, which is even more important than any other election. We need to sensitise our people. We need to educate them about the importance of grassroot government,” he added.
The issue of a possible one-party state has recently stirred debate, especially after former APC national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, suggested there would be nothing wrong if Nigeria gravitates toward such a system.
Ganduje had said, “Leaders worried about a one-party state have no need to fear. A one-party state is not by force; it is by negotiation. If they decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that.”
He further argued that a multi-party system hampers governance, using China’s one-party model as an example.
However, President Tinubu, during his address to a joint session of the National Assembly on Democracy Day, firmly rejected the idea of a one-party system under his leadership.
“Nigeria will not become a one-party state. A one-party state is not in the offing. But we will be doing political malpractice if we close the doors for those who want to join APC,” Tinubu said.
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