Tinubu ally warns of one-party state, backs ADC coalition

A political ally of President Bola Tinubu and elder statesman, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, has expressed strong support for the emerging opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a critical move to preserve Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement titled “The Simple Bravery That Will Save Nigeria’s Democracy,” Imam warned that the nation was on the brink of becoming a one-party state. He praised the ADC’s refusal to step aside from the 2027 ballot, calling it a bold and patriotic stand against the growing suppression of dissenting voices.

“The ADC may not be revolutionary,” Imam said, “but their presence on the ballot could be the most consequential act of national courage since our return to democracy.”

Imam criticized the centralization of power under President Tinubu, alleging that Nigeria was replicating a political model from Lagos characterized by political silencing, lack of transparency, and weakened legislative independence. He accused the ruling party of infiltrating the opposition and subordinating critical state institutions to the president’s personal ambitions.

While acknowledging the imperfections of the ADC, Imam said their defiance was instrumental in keeping political competition alive. “They are not poster children for change,” he noted, “but they are the ones who didn’t step aside.”

He also issued a passionate call to Nigeria’s middle class, including professionals, students, and the diaspora, urging them to reject political apathy and support pluralism to prevent the erasure of democratic choice.

“If Tinubu succeeds in erasing choice, your country disappears next. If there’s no one left to vote for, what will be left to live in?” he warned.

Imam concluded that while the ADC’s survival is not a personal victory for the party, it is a win for democracy itself. “Sometimes democracy just needs survivors who won’t quit,” he said.