A recent accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is engineering a one-party state in Nigeria has been met with strong counterarguments from a political analyst. The PDP raised the alarm following a wave of defections from opposition camps to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Analyst Recalls PDP's History, Questions Current Alarm
In an exclusive interview, political commentator Omotayo Yusuf tackled the PDP's position. He reminded the public of a period when the PDP itself was the dominant force, famously boasting through one of its members that it would rule Nigeria for 60 years.
Yusuf pointed out that this statement reflected the PDP's peak dominance but also a significant lack of foresight. "While it was growing and had ruled Nigeria for 16 years and even predicted to dominate the politics of the country for 60 years, what it forgot was that an opposition was growing and working assiduously to topple its governance, which ultimately happened in 2015," he stated.
APC's Current Position Mirrors PDP's Past
The analyst drew a direct parallel, noting that the APC now occupies the position of dominance once held by the PDP. He highlighted the APC's control of the presidency, the National Assembly, and the consistent defection of politicians and entire political structures from other parties.
"I do not see the APC and President Tinubu trying to be the only party in Nigeria, but they are trying to remain the only dominant party in the country," Yusuf asserted. He acknowledged the continued existence of other parties like the PDP, Labour Party, and the coalition of smaller parties under the ADC, but stressed their current fringe influence.
A Warning for the Ruling Party
However, Yusuf projected that the APC could suffer the same fate as the PDP if it fails to manage the internal dynamics that come with massive growth. He suggested that the internal divisions and problems that naturally arise in a large, dominant party could become its Achilles' heel.
"Ultimately, the same political issues that make us have a divide, when the APC grows to that state, those same problems would start internally. So, it is left to see how the party will navigate in 2026, ahead of the general election in 2027," he cautioned. His final verdict was clear: "A one-party state? Definitely not, a dominant party? Absolutely yes."
The analyst also referenced President Bola Tinubu's earlier advice to the PDP to put its own house in order, suggesting that the opposition's internal crises are a political advantage for the ruling party as the 2027 elections approach.
This political discourse unfolds alongside practical developments, such as the reported omission of the PDP from the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) provisional list for the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election, further fueling debates about the opposition's vitality.
