…Says Enugu, Bayelsa Governors Betrayed Democracy
By James Abiodun
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of orchestrating a deliberate plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, following the recent defections of the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the defections as a “betrayal of the people’s mandate” and a “dangerous signal” for Nigeria’s democracy.
According to Abdullahi, the defections confirm the ADC’s long-standing warning that the Tinubu administration is working to weaken opposition parties and consolidate political control at all costs.
“The recent defections by the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the APC validate our warning that President Bola Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, regardless of the consequences for democracy or national stability,” Abdullahi said.
He accused the defected governors of abandoning their citizens to align with a government that has, in his words, “made life miserable for the majority of Nigerians.”
“While it may appear that the APC has gained new members, what has really happened is that these governors have abandoned their people to join the very government responsible for widespread hardship,” the statement added.
The ADC said Nigerians are already living the consequences of the APC’s misrule, pointing to worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and a collapse of essential public services.
“Even those who once campaigned for the APC or proudly displayed its logo have now distanced themselves. Food prices are soaring, jobs are disappearing, and insecurity continues to spread across the country,” Abdullahi said.
The party also accused the defected governors of committing what it called “historic political apostasy,” arguing that they had failed in their duty to provide constructive opposition and alternative ideas for governance.
“When the ruling party has failed the people, the duty of opposition leaders is to defend democracy and propose solutions. Instead, these governors have chosen to join the grand conspiracy against Nigerians,” the statement read.
Despite the setbacks, the ADC maintained that the opposition remains resolute, insisting that the defections have only clarified the political divide between those fighting for national redemption and those seeking personal gain.
“While the APC celebrates, the opposition is equally strengthened. The line between patriots and opportunists has never been clearer,” Abdullahi asserted.
He concluded by declaring that the 2027 general elections will not just be a contest of political parties but a decisive struggle between ordinary Nigerians and what he termed “Tinubu’s gang of governors.”
“The people can see through the deception, and they are waiting. 2027 will be a battle between Nigerians and the APC establishment,” Abdullahi warned.
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