On February 25, 2023, during Nigeria’s presidential and general election, Bola Tinubu (C-L), the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his wife Oluremi Tinubu (C-R) show up to cast their ballots at a polling place in Lagos.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
(Image courtesy of AFP/John Wessels) (Image courtesy of AFP/JOHN WESSELS via Getty Images)) President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has solidified his hold on power ahead of the next elections in 2027, according to recent political activity in the nation. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seems to have weakened, divided, and increasingly appropriated the opposition.
According to experts, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) hegemony under Obasanjo is reminiscent of the consolidation of power under Tinubu. In Nigeria’s political history, the 2003 elections under the Obasanjo-led government marked a turning point. Opposition parties were reduced to a ghost of their former selves when the PDP won the majority of state governorships and an overwhelming majority in the national legislature.
Tinubu’s APC seems to be playing by the same rules ahead of 2027. The promise of patronage, financial incentives, and political importance are all luring opposition figures to defect in large numbers. Many opposition leaders are under pressure from their supporters, who view joining the ruling party as a means of gaining access to opportunities and money. According to political observers, Tinubu’s consolidation of power demonstrates the structural flaws in Nigeria’s democratic institutions even though it is a tribute to his political savvy.
“Opposition parties face the difficult task of not just surviving but also redefining themselves as viable substitutes that may regain the trust of a disillusioned population as the 2027 elections get near. There is a lot on the line. Nigeria could revert to a one-party dominating system, similar to that of the early 2000s, when electoral competition is merely nominal, if the opposition is unable to come together and put up a united front. Professor Omo Omoruyi of the renowned Centre for Democratic Studies said, “for democracy to flourish, the opposition must find a way to resist co-optation, rebuild its grassroots support, and challenge the pervasive culture of patronage that continues to shape Nigerian politics.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
