Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the emergence of an opposition coalition as a positive development for Nigeria’s democracy, warning against the dangers of a one-party state.
Speaking in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday after casting his vote in the local government elections, Gbajabiamila said: “It is a welcome development.
In every democracy, we must have some level of opposition, otherwise we will run into a one-party state. But I’m not sure where it would go.”
His comment comes amid growing criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over mass defections from opposition parties and fears of political dominance.
In response, key opposition figures from the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP have formed a coalition and adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their common platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
On the LGA election, Gbajabiamila noted it was peaceful and free of violence but regretted the low turnout. “We need to sensitise people about the importance of grassroots government,” he said. “Local elections are critical, yet often ignored.”