President Bola Tinubu has rejected claims that his government is working to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, saying the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remains open to members from other political parties.
Speaking during a special joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day on Thursday, Tinubu dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
“You are all welcome to the progressive fold. Nobody should close the door,” he told lawmakers. “Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs, rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist.”
The president was responding to growing concerns among opposition parties and civil society groups that recent political manoeuvres and defections were signs of an attempt to weaken multiparty democracy in the country. Tinubu, however, maintained that the responsibility lies with political parties to strengthen their own structures, adding, “I will not help you to do so, either.”
Reflecting on Nigeria’s political journey since the end of military rule in 1999, Tinubu said the country had made significant progress. “I felt a sense of collective accomplishment when I realised how far we had come as a nation,” he said.
“Democracy has risen from the ashes of military rule to reclaim its rightful place as the only acceptable form of governance for our resilient and beloved people.”
He also paid tribute to key figures in Nigeria’s fight for democracy, including the late Chief Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, and his wife, Kudirat Abiola, who was assassinated during the struggle. Tinubu praised former President Muhammadu Buhari for officially recognising June 12 as Democracy Day in honour of Abiola’s legacy.
“We remember the many civil rights activists, journalists, and politicians who were imprisoned, exiled, tossed aside, and beaten,” he said.
Tinubu called for unity and cooperation between the executive and the legislature, acknowledging that disagreements are part of democratic governance. “While we may not always agree, we must forge a way to work together, because this is what democracy demands of us,” he concluded.