Leading opposition figures have raised the alarm over what they describe as a creeping slide toward a one-party state in Nigeria, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of using state institutions to intimidate political opponents ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a joint statement, former Senate President David Mark; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party 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 expressed concern over the increasing perception that anti-corruption and security agencies are being used as tools of selective justice rather than independent institutions upholding the rule of law.
“We are compelled by duty to our 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 instruments of political intimidation, selective justice, and systematic persecution of opposition leaders,” the statement said.
Allegations of Covert Pressure
The leaders alleged a deliberate, covert effort to bring all state governments under the control of the ruling party, not through open elections but through pressure exerted via anti-graft investigations. Opposition governors and influential political figures, they said, are the primary targets.
READ ALSO: EFCC Detains Ex-AGF Malami Over Unfulfilled Bail Requirements
They pointed to the recent wave of defections by opposition governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as evidence that coercion, rather than political conviction, is driving these shifts.
“More than ever before in our democratic experience, Nigerians have witnessed 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.
EFCC Accused of Political Manipulation
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was singled out for criticism. The opposition leaders claimed that cases involving ruling party members are often ignored or stalled, while opposition figures face swift investigation and intense public scrutiny.
READ ALSO: Full List, Allegations: Buhari’s Ex-Officials Under EFCC Investigation
“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,” the statement added.
Impact on Nigeria’s Democracy
The statement recalled remarks by a former APC national chairman suggesting defectors’ “sins” were forgiven upon joining the ruling party, which opposition figures say symbolises selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
The leaders warned that such practices erode public trust in state institutions and could fuel instability ahead of the next election cycle.
Calls for Reforms
Opposition leaders proposed urgent reforms, including depoliticising the EFCC, restoring its statutory mandate, and establishing safeguards to prevent a slide into a one-party system.
They also suggested embedding anti-graft operatives directly into government payment and expenditure processes at all levels.
They called for the creation of an independent review body to examine public accounts from 2015 to 2025.
The body, they said, should be chaired by an eminent judge and include representatives from civil society, professional bodies, security agencies, anti-graft institutions, and all political parties represented in the National Assembly.
READ ALSO: EFCC Set to Arraign Ex-Minister Ngige
“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 concluded.
The opposition leaders disclosed plans to engage Nigeria’s international partners and diplomatic missions to raise concerns over the politicisation of anti-graft institutions and push for reforms to safeguard democracy.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
