By Gabriel Ameh
📍Abuja | Media360Impact Report
Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently halt what he described as growing anti-democratic tendencies capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
Adeyanju urged the President to rein in individuals and institutions allegedly working within and around the government to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He expressed concern over what he described as the use of legal and political mechanisms to frustrate opposition parties, warning that such actions could prevent them from effectively participating in the electoral process.
According to him, attempts to weaken major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), signal a troubling drift toward a one-party state.
“These actions are fundamentally undemocratic and must be halted,” he said, adding that any strategy aimed at eliminating political competition poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
Adeyanju cautioned that advisers promoting the idea that a weakened opposition would improve the President’s re-election chances may be misleading, stressing that a vibrant opposition is essential for a healthy democracy.
He also warned that continued pressure on opposition parties could erode public trust in democratic institutions and attract scrutiny from the international community.
The activist further called on former Presidents and respected national leaders to rise to the occasion and speak out against any attempt to undermine democratic pluralism.
“This is a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy,” he said, urging all stakeholders to defend the integrity of the nation’s political system.
