In recent discussions about Nigeria’s political landscape, Mr. Katchi Ononuju, the Director General of the Heritage Centre, a think tank focused on economics, politics, and opinions, has raised concerns about the growing dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its methods for securing power. According to Ononuju, the ruling party has adopted tactics that amount to state capture, particularly evident in the conduct of the off-cycle elections. These actions, he claims, set the stage for a similar strategy ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Ononuju highlighted that the opposition, particularly the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has failed to provide a strong challenge to the APC. He described the PDP as “moribund” and “comatose,” largely due to internal conflicts that have weakened the party. These issues, including the departure of prominent figures such as Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, who formed the Obidient movement, have left the party fractured and unable to present a unified opposition.
According to Ononuju, the APC has perfected a strategy for state capture, which includes manipulating key institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary. He pointed to the recent elections in Edo and Ondo as examples of this strategy, claiming that what appeared to be elections were, in fact, “captured events” orchestrated by the ruling party to ensure victory at any cost. This strategy, he argues, has been executed with such impunity that there is little to no opposition response, as the opposition remains divided and ineffective.
In a report by Daily Post, the impact of a weak opposition, Ononuju argues, is that the ruling party faces no real checks on its power, leading to authoritarian tendencies. He pointed to President Tinubu’s actions as reflective of this unchecked executive behavior, warning that if the opposition does not unite, the APC will continue using state capture mechanisms, particularly through INEC and the judiciary, to maintain its hold on power. The absence of a strong, unified opposition, he believes, could erode the democratic fabric of the nation.
Ononuju also criticized the APC-led government for undermining electoral processes by appointing party loyalists to positions within INEC and the judiciary, actions which he argues are contrary to legal requirements. He pointed to the Biometric identification system, which was meant to ensure transparency in the electoral process, as a case in point. According to Ononuju, a significant number of votes from the North were invalidated in the last election due to technical issues, but the ruling party’s manipulation of the system ultimately tilted the outcome in its favor.
He urged the opposition, particularly Atiku Abubakar, to recognize the importance of unity for the sake of Nigeria’s democracy. He suggested that Atiku, as a long-time political figure, should consider stepping aside and supporting a southern candidate for the 2027 election to help rebuild the opposition and present a credible challenge to the APC. Only through such unity, Ononuju believes, can the opposition hope to counter the state capture tactics that have become a hallmark of the APC’s rule.
According to him, “If the opposition wants to fight and provide the necessary strength for democracy, it needs to find a way to unite and in doing that, Atiku who became a Nigerian in 1961 should understand that Nigeria has given him a lot, thanks to the plebiscite that brought in the British part of Cameroon known as Adamawa, the Sardauna province into Nigeria.”
Peoplesmind
