A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Ologbondiyan, has described as “strange” President Bola Tinubu’s denial of plans to establish a one-party state in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Ologbondiyan stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, in reaction to Tinubu’s Democracy Day address to the joint session of the National Assembly.
President Tinubu had dismissed growing concerns over alleged moves to stifle opposition parties and turn Nigeria into a de facto one-party state. While addressing lawmakers on Thursday, the president said, “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.”
However, Ologbondiyan said such a remark was unconvincing, considering the reality on the ground.
“We never expected Mr. President to come to the public arena and declare that he knows nothing about the plot to bring up a one-party state,” he said.
The former PDP spokesperson also raised concerns about the handling of political party registrations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ologbondiyan said, “I have not seen when he spoke on the need to reform the electoral process. Even in that remark, Mr. President did not address the fact that INEC has refused to register certain parties.”
He recalled a particular instance where a group allegedly completed all registration requirements for a political party but had yet to be issued a certificate by INEC.
“They have been told to come for their certificate. Day in, day out, they have not been issued that certificate,” he added.
Ologbondiyan insisted that while the president may deny the allegations, the actions and rhetoric from within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggest otherwise.
He said, “It is also strange to me that Mr. President will come up and say, ‘Oh forever and ever I will never be involved in a one-party plot.
“Even members of his own cabinet have come out on Channels TV to say, ‘Where will we find a party to contest on?’ The president doesn’t need to say, ‘Don’t register this party,’ but the design of the party already suggests it.”
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