No fewer than 10 opposition political parties in Nigeria, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Accord Party (AP), National Democratic Congress (ADC), have accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to impose a one-party state on Nigerians, warning that such a move poses an “existential threat” to the country’s democracy.
This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by chairmen of the participating opposition parties and issued at the end of a National Summit of opposition parties held on Saturday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The parties, in what they tagged “Ibadan Declaration,” said Nigeria is under the “stranglehold of an oppressive and anti-democratic APC,” insisting that urgent and collective action is needed to “rescue the nation” and its over 200 million citizens.
The opposition parties vowed to resist alleged plots by the APC to foist a one-party system on Nigeria, stressing their commitment to preserving multi-party democracy.
They further accused the ruling party of making moves to impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections but declared that opposition parties would field candidates and actively contest all positions.
In a significant political move, the opposition bloc revealed plans to unite behind a single presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, saying such a strategy was necessary to challenge the ruling party and “rescue” Nigerians from hardship.
The parties also passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, accusing him of bias and partisanship in favour of the APC.
According to the communiqué, Amupitan should not be allowed to conduct the 2027 general elections, as his continued stay in office could “trigger widespread crisis” due to the alleged loss of public trust in his neutrality.
The opposition parties also called on the National Assembly to urgently review the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that certain provisions undermine the integrity of elections and contradict constitutional principles.
They further demanded the immediate release of politicians allegedly detained or harassed over bailable offences, insisting that such actions violate democratic rights and political inclusivity.
In addition, the opposition parties criticised recent guidelines issued by INEC, describing them as deliberate obstacles designed to disadvantage opposition parties.
They called for an extension of the deadline for party primaries to the end of July 2026.
Despite their grievances, the parties commended Nigerians for their resilience and willingness to support efforts aimed at ending what they termed “state capture.”
They also expressed appreciation to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the people of the state for hosting what they described as an “epochal” gathering.
