Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine, has warned of a growing political upheaval in Nigeria, likening current tensions to the crisis that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. Speaking on an Arise TV programme on Monday, Mr Momodu said a "quiet and peaceful revolution is brewing in Nigeria" and cautioned that mismanagement could plunge the country into a similar political anarchy. He pointed to internal crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), suggesting these are being manipulated to weaken opposition ahead of the 2027 general election. Mr Momodu attributed the survival of the PDP faction led by Nyesom Wike to "federal might," accusing the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of engaging in anti-party activities without repercussions. He cited Wike's declaration that he already had a candidate for 2027 as evidence of such misconduct. The Ovation publisher noted a surge in ADC membership, driven by figures like Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, despite uncertainty over the recognition of the David Mark-led ADC faction by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Mr Momodu urged President Bola Tinubu to listen to truthful counsel, warning that isolation from reality by aides could deepen the crisis. He stressed that the current political realignment reflects widespread dissatisfaction and could lead to a repeat of the NADECO-era unrest if unaddressed.
Dele Momodu's warning about a brewing political shift gains weight given Rabiu Kwankwaso's high-profile move to the ADC and the visible fractures in the PDP. The fact that a faction led by Nyesom Wike remains active despite open defiance of party norms suggests institutional imbalance tilted by executive influence. This dynamic risks distorting fair political competition ahead of 2027, not through violence, but through structural manipulation that could erode public trust in democratic processes. For ordinary Nigerians, the stakes are clear: a repeat of past political ruptures may not come with tanks on the streets, but with backroom decisions that hollow out party democracy.
