By OBSERVERS TIMES
Princess Grace Iye Adejoh, the Women Leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent assertion that there is “nothing wrong” with a one-party state, labeling it a dangerous step towards dictatorship.
Adejo’s remarks came in response to Tinubu’s statement made during an endorsement for a second term by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee. She expressed disappointment, highlighting that Tinubu himself ascended to power through a vibrant opposition.
In a statement released to newsmen in Lokoja, Princess Adejoh emphasized that a healthy democracy necessitates dissenting voices, independent oversight, and robust public discourse. Without these elements, she warned, governance becomes unchecked and authoritarian.
The PDP Women Leader’s statement lamented the current state of affairs in Nigeria, citing various national challenges including the issues with JAMB, the tragic death of a student due to a stray police bullet, and the desperate attempts of Nigerians to flee the country’s economic hardship, as evidenced by the rescue of four stowaways. She criticized the “deepening despair” and the “rot” within Nigeria’s political class.
Adejoh specifically addressed the recent wave of defections to the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 elections, dismissing them not as a sign of good governance but as “political opportunism and self-preservation.” She argued that such defections weaken the much-needed opposition vital for holding the government accountable.
While acknowledging the right to political migration in a democracy, Adejoh asserted that in Nigeria, these shifts are rarely ideological but rather “strategic moves to maintain power, avoid prosecution, and continue feeding off a broken system.” She cautioned that encouraging a one-party state, even under the guise of unity, would “suffocate our democracy.”
The statement further reminded politicians defecting to the APC that their actions and the “toxic climate they create today will haunt not only the nation but also their own legacies.” Adejoh underscored the historical role of a strong opposition in bringing the APC to power, stressing that “constructive opposition is vital.”
“Nigerians are wise. They know those who are in politics for the good of the masses, and they know those who are in it for selfish interests,” Adejoh concluded, urging reflection and a course correction in the interest of the nation before 2027.
