“Too many cooks spoil the soup—too many political parties spoil governance.” These were the words of Abdullahi Ganguje, APC National Chairman, who recently, audaciously, called for a one-party state in Nigeria. “China is one of the strongest economies in the world, and it’s a one-party system,” he added.
Ganduje was, of course, re-echoing President Tinubu, who would use state resources and his incumbency to lure all influential politicians into his party and hollow out the opposition parties. Some observers and critics have been outraged by Ganduje’s statement, but such indignation ignores the fact that Nigeria is a de facto one-party state.
The truth is, Tinubu and Ganduje are pushing at an open door. The fluidity and fickleness of party loyalty in Nigeria lead inexorably to a one-party state.
When APC chairman Abdullahi Ganduje recently suggested there was ‘nothing wrong with a one-party state,’ it sparked concern among citizens and observers. Has Nigeria’s democracy begun to lose its balance?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has since rubbished such allegations, arguing his government is still loyal to democratic ideals and the spirit of multi-party politics.
According to the President, “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be a result of your panic, it rings in error. At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and at no future juncture shall I view the notion of a one-party state as good for Nigeria. I have never attempted to alter any political party registration with INEC.
Equally, my friends, we cannot blame anybody seeking to bail out of a sinking ship even without a life jacket.
Look at my political history. I would be the last person to advocate such a scheme. In 2003, when the then-governing party tried to sweep the nation clean of political opposition through plot and manipulation, I was the last of the progressive governors standing in my region. In all their numbers and false grandeur, they boasted of ruling, not governing, Nigeria for the next half century or more. Where are they now? Yet, I stood alone. My allies had been induced into defeat. My adversaries held all the cards that mortal man can carry. Even with all of that, they could not control our national destiny because fate is written from above.
A greater power did not want Nigeria to become a one-party state back then. Nigeria will not become such a state now.
Nigeria has been functioning as a multiparty democracy ever since its restoration to civilian rule in 1999. Nevertheless, there have been concerns over democratic backsliding in the country due to the leading position of the ruling party, increased voter apathy, and suppression of the opposition voices. Since the elections in 2023, most opposition parties are much weaker as they either faced internal crises or were consumed by the political process.
Challenges Under the Surface
As the concept of a one-party state should be disturbing, the truth could be more complicated. Several systemic weaknesses enable the powerful parties to prosper in the democracy of Nigeria:
- Youth Disengagement
Most of the youths in Nigeria feel marginalized in the political process, although they are in large numbers and energetic. The post-2023 elections, adding to the continued economic struggle, have disillusioned different citizens.
The #ENDSARS movement demonstrated the strength of youth activism; still, that momentum has not converted into changes in political structure.
- Weak Political Institution
The political parties in Nigeria do not have good ideological grounds. They tend to be outlets of personal ambitions as opposed to being venues of a clear policy course. The resultant effect is regular party poaching, low party whip, and superficial voter participation.
- Lack of Trust in Electoral Systems
The 2023 general polls were characterized by claims of irregularities, inefficiency of logistics operations by INEC, and apprehensions about transmitting results electronically. There is a great number of voters who do not believe that their vote would matter, a critical tendency in any democracy.
If these trends persist, Nigeria could drift toward a de facto one-party state. This would erode checks and balances, reduce civic engagement, and potentially reverse years of democratic progress. Citizens may feel further alienated from governance. Voting is not the only thing about democracy. It is about justice, fairness, freedom, and the willingness to question authority.
