President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country will not become a one-party state under his leadership, even as he maintained an open-door policy for opposition members seeking to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President made these remarks during his Democracy Day address to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja on Thursday, presenting what political observers describe as a “carrot-and-stick” approach to party politics.
While firmly stating that “Nigeria will not become a one-party state” and that “a one-party state is not in the offing,” Tinubu simultaneously argued that it would constitute “political malpractice” for the APC to reject willing defectors from opposition parties.
In a remark that drew mixed reactions, the President expressed no sympathy for opposition parties currently experiencing internal crises, saying: “It is better to witness them (opposition parties) in such a disarray.”
When pressed on whether he would advise them to reorganize, Tinubu bluntly responded that he “would not advise opposition parties to put their house in order.”
The President extended an open invitation to potential defectors, declaring: “You are all welcome to the progressive fold. Nobody should close the door.”
He suggested that struggling parties focus on self-improvement rather than lamenting defections, adding: “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.”
Civil society organizations have welcomed Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining a multi-party system but caution that the growing dominance of the APC could undermine democratic checks and balances if not carefully managed.
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