David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deliberately weakening opposition parties and democratic institutions in a bid to impose a one-party state.
Speaking at a national opposition summit in Ibadan, Mark said the current administration is systematically targeting opposition voices and undermining Nigerians’ right to freely choose their leaders.
“In the last three years, this government has launched major attacks on the opposition parties, all in a bid to deny the people the right to choose. They want to foist a one-party state on Nigeria,” he said.
“Institutions that should safeguard our freedom and protect the will of the people are increasingly under assault. The right of citizens to freely choose their leaders is being undermined.
“The independence of democratic institutions is being compromised. In fact, it is becoming increasingly difficult to describe what we have today as a fully functioning democracy in both form and substance.”
Mark warned that the pressure on opposition parties is part of a broader strategy to retain power at all costs, stressing that no single party can confront the system alone.
“I have no doubt in my mind that no single opposition political party, no matter how strong, can confront a system so entrenched and so determined to retain power at all costs,” he said.
“What we are faced with is a regime that has shown, in both words and in deeds, a willingness to weaken democratic structures and suppress opposition voices.
“Let’s not make a mistake about this.
The move towards a one-party state is real. It has never happened before in this country, and it will not happen in our generation.”
He urged opposition leaders to set aside personal ambitions and unite, emphasizing that coalition-building is now critical to preserving Nigeria’s democracy.
“Let it be said loud and clear that at a defining moment in our history, when Nigeria stood at the edge of uncertainty, we did not falter. We did not allow personal ambition to override the desire of Nigerians for a better life,” he said.
“We did not collapse under the temptation of petty partisanship or self-satisfying ambitions. Instead, we chose unity over division, sacrifice over self, and country above all.”
Mark also took aim at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), claiming public confidence in the electoral body has eroded due to perceived bias.
“Let me use this opportunity to emphasise once again that the credibility of our democracy rests on the neutrality and integrity of its electoral institutions. When the referee clearly and proudly wears the jersey of one of the teams in a match he should be officiating, then the legitimacy of the entire process is undermined,” he added.
“In this instance, Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral body. INEC is no longer an impartial umpire. And if nothing changes, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan is about to preside over the most distrusted election in Nigerian history.”
He concluded by warning that time is running out, stressing that the choices made now will determine whether Nigeria retains its democratic identity or slips into one-party dominance.
