A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has alleged that Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, is deliberately working to weaken opposition parties in the country.
Momodu made the claims in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) page, where he argued that the current administration does not want a strong opposition and is prepared to use every available means to neutralise rival political forces.
According to the former presidential aspirant, Nigeria’s political landscape is increasingly being shaped by the influence of the ruling government, which he said has contributed to internal crises within opposition parties.
Momodu also referenced the ongoing challenges within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly the controversy surrounding the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“I do not understand the logic behind this conversation,” Momodu wrote. “The only reason Wike could not be suspended or expelled from PDP is his stranglehold on the judiciary and President Tinubu.”
The media entrepreneur further dismissed suggestions that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be blamed for the internal crisis within the PDP.
He noted that Peter Obi had already left the PDP before the party’s presidential primary ahead of the 2023 election, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the contest were not the fault of Atiku.
Momodu also recalled that Wike had sought to become Atiku’s running mate but was not selected, after which he later supported Tinubu during the election.
“PDP chose to throw its primary wide open, a decision that was controlled by Wike’s group, and Wike lost. How was that Atiku’s fault again?” he asked.
He also questioned whether any of the prominent figures within the party — including Atiku, Obi, or Wike — would necessarily have defeated Tinubu even if they had contested the election on the PDP platform.
Momodu emphasised that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees citizens the right to pursue political ambitions, arguing that criticism directed at Atiku for continuing his political aspirations was misplaced.
“The Constitution of Nigeria supremely allows everyone to pursue his or her dreams legitimately, so what’s this obsession with trying to suppress Atiku who has never stopped others from pursuing theirs?” he stated.
The ADC chieftain also pointed to internal disputes within other opposition parties such as the Labour Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), questioning why critics attribute these crises to opposition figures rather than broader political pressures.
He concluded by warning that Nigeria risks sliding into authoritarianism if political actors and citizens fail to unite across party lines.
“It should be obvious by now that Tinubu does not want any opposition and he will do anything and everything to exterminate and obliterate opposition, if Nigerians do not unite beyond parties to fight back,” Momodu wrote.
