Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has accused the Tinubu administration of deliberately suppressing opposition politics, warning that Nigeria’s democratic space is under threat.
Speaking on ARISE PrimeTime on Monday, Obi — now aligned with the African Democratic Congress — said the refusal to grant the ADC access to venues in Abuja for its planned national convention was a telling indicator of democratic decline.
“We are a party that, when we have freedom of association, everything enshrined in our constitution, and yet a party that is supposed to be the main opposition party cannot be allowed to exist,” he said.
Obi alleged that crises rocking opposition parties were not organic but instigated by external forces seeking to destabilise them ahead of the 2027 elections. He argued that the government was not playing by democratic rules and that there was a deliberate effort to weaken opposition platforms.
Despite the logistical setbacks, he insisted the ADC convention would proceed as scheduled. “It will hold. I will be there,” he said.
Obi also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission over its withdrawal of recognition from the ADC faction led by former Senate President David Mark, describing the move as inconsistent, given that the same leadership had previously been recognised.
He lamented what he described as the creeping erosion of public trust in democratic institutions, including the judiciary, warning that the system risked being reduced to a mess.
On the path forward, Obi called for a united opposition built on competence, capacity, and sacrifice — not transactional politics — and framed the 2027 elections as a decisive contest between the Nigerian people and those in power.
“It is not about me. It is about the integrity of our democratic process and building a better society for our children,” he said.
Defending his history of switching parties, Obi said he would not hesitate to move again if necessary. “I will not be part of a broken system,” he added.
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