Dangers of drift to a one-party state

Against the backdrop of the gale of defections that has trailed the recent presidential elelction which the APC won, stakeholders in the political arena have continued to warn that the trend will lead to the emergence of a one party state. And they have also warned that such portends great danger for the polity, as it will also lead to the absence of a formidable opposition to keep the ruling party in check.

Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State warned against a one-party system in the country, pointing out that it will not augur well for the political development of the country. “We don’t want a one-party state in the country, we want credible and healthy competition at least between the two major political parties. We must do everything possible to sustain the PD) so that democracy will be entrenched properly”, Aliyu stated.

“If you recall when the All Progressives Congress (APC) came together, I was the first person to say that, that was good for Nigerian democracy because it will put PDP on its feet and the federal sector, not only putting it to its feet but will be reorganized”.

Also, though his party, the APC was profiting from the gale of defections, national chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, denounced the trend, explaining, that it was not good for Nigeria’s political development.

Oyegun, who spoke to newsmen in Benin shortly after casting his vote, advised those defecting to the winning party to rather form a formidable opposition to enrich the nation’s democracy. “Many opposition party members have defected to APC just because they lost out, that is not good for political development.

“One would have advised that opposition members should stay where they are, and form a formidable opposition party.” Mr. Oyegun said.

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