A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has blamed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s refusal to step aside for deepening concerns about a creeping one-party system in Nigeria.
Okechukwu, a former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), made the remarks in Enugu while reacting to Atiku’s recent declaration that he would not withdraw from the political race.
He argued that Atiku’s position undermines opposition unity and indirectly strengthens the dominance of the ruling party.
According to him, the absence of the former vice president at a major political gathering in Kano—where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya movement—raises questions about his commitment to coalition-building.
Okechukwu accused Atiku of contradicting himself by alleging that President Bola Tinubu is fostering a one-party system, while his own actions weaken efforts to build a strong opposition front.
He further recalled that similar actions by Atiku during the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries contributed to internal divisions that destabilised the party.
Describing claims of a one-party agenda as misleading, Okechukwu said the real issue lies in the opposition’s inability to unite, citing personal ambition, disunity, and lack of strategic direction as key setbacks.
He maintained that Atiku’s latest statement highlights a deeper problem within the opposition, where leaders are unwilling to make sacrifices for collective progress or respect zoning principles meant to ensure balance and inclusiveness.
Okechukwu suggested that Atiku, as a senior statesman, should instead support a consensus ticket involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 elections, in order to present a credible challenge and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
He concluded that the real threat to the country’s democratic system is not the strength of the ruling party, but the persistent dysfunction and fragmentation within the opposition.
