At least 10 opposition parties in Nigeria, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Accord Party (AP), and National Democratic Congress (NDC), have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to establish a one-party state. The allegation emerged from a joint communiqué issued after a National Summit held on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State, dubbed the "Ibadan Declaration." The parties claimed Nigeria is under the "stranglehold of an oppressive and anti-democratic APC" and warned of an "existential threat" to democracy. They vowed to resist any move to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in 2027, affirming plans to field candidates for all positions. A key resolution from the summit was the decision to unite behind a single presidential candidate for the 2027 election. The bloc passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, accusing him of bias in favour of the APC. They said his continued leadership could "trigger widespread crisis" due to eroded public trust. The parties urged the National Assembly to review the Electoral Act 2026, citing provisions that undermine electoral integrity. They also called for the release of politicians detained over bailable offences and demanded INEC extend the deadline for party primaries to July 2026. Recent INEC guidelines were criticised as deliberate obstacles against opposition parties. The opposition commended Nigerians for their resilience and thanked Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for hosting the summit.
The opposition parties demand the removal of INEC Chairman Joash Ojo Amupitan over alleged bias, yet they simultaneously plan to unite behind one candidate for 2027 — a strategy that mirrors the one-party dominance they claim to oppose. Their call for electoral fairness rings hollow when their proposed solution is to consolidate power within a single opposition front. If Nigerians are to trust electoral integrity, the opposition must demonstrate commitment to internal pluralism, not just resistance to APC. Their unity pact risks trading one form of political monopoly for another.
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