Senior opposition figures have warned President Bola Tinubu that Nigeria risks sliding into a de facto one-party state.

They accused his administration of allowing state institutions to intimidate political opponents ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a joint statement issued in Abuja, the leaders said public trust in anti-corruption and security agencies is fading.

Many Nigerians, they argued, now see those bodies as tools of political pressure rather than neutral enforcers of the law.

The statement was signed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former PDP Deputy National Chairman Bode George, former APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and Mallam Lawal Batagarawa.

Claims of Selective Justice

The opposition leaders warned of a steady erosion of institutional independence. They said law enforcement agencies now appear to apply justice unevenly.

According to the statement, allegations involving members of the ruling All Progressives Congress often stall or attract little attention.

In contrast, accusations against opposition figures move quickly and draw intense public scrutiny.

They described the pattern as selective justice. They said it weakens the rule of law and damages public confidence in state institutions.

Pressure on Governors and Defections

The leaders said the alleged strategy goes beyond individuals. They claimed it targets state governments controlled by opposition parties.

They accused authorities of using anti-graft investigations to pressure opposition governors and key political figures into joining the ruling party.

Recent defections of opposition governors to the APC, they said, have deepened public suspicion. Many Nigerians now believe coercion, not ideology, drives the realignments.

The leaders described the trend as a covert effort to bring all states under the president’s party. They argued that it avoids open and transparent electoral contests.

EFCC Under Scrutiny

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission featured prominently in the statement. The opposition leaders said the agency appears vulnerable to political influence.

They recalled remarks by a former APC national chairman who suggested defectors’ past misconduct no longer mattered after joining the ruling party.

The opposition said the comment now reflects public belief in unequal enforcement of anti-corruption laws.

They warned that when an agency created for accountability appears to target political opponents, it harms both justice and democracy.

Warnings Ahead of 2027

The leaders cautioned that continued politicisation of state institutions could fuel instability. They said the risk increases as another election cycle approaches.

They argued that unresolved social and political injustice could escalate into wider unrest. Nigeria’s fragile political climate, they said, makes the danger more serious.

The statement stressed that democracy cannot endure where opposition voices face intimidation and institutions lose public trust.

Proposed Reforms and Safeguards

The opposition leaders called for reforms to stop Nigeria from drifting toward one-party rule.

They urged the depoliticisation of the EFCC and a return to its statutory mandate. As a preventive step, they proposed embedding anti-graft operatives into government payment and expenditure systems at all levels.

They cited a Supreme Court ruling that affirmed the EFCC’s authority to oversee public accounts.

The leaders also proposed an independent review body. It would examine federal, state, and local government accounts from 2015 to 2025.

The body would publish its findings and recommend amendments to strengthen the EFCC’s enabling law.

They said the panel should be chaired by a respected judge. Its members should include civil society groups, professional bodies, security agencies, anti-graft institutions, and all political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Appeal to Nigerians and International Partners

The leaders said Nigeria belongs to all citizens, not one party or one leader. They warned against silence in the face of democratic decline.

They also disclosed plans to engage international partners and diplomatic missions in the coming weeks. The goal, they said, is to raise concerns about the politicisation of anti-graft institutions and push for reforms to protect Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.