Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kola Ologbondiyan, has described President Bola Tinubu's recent remarks regarding a one-party state as "strange," despite the president's public denials of such intentions.
Speaking on Channels TV's Morning Brief on Friday, Ologbondiyan responded to President Tinubu's address to the National Assembly on Thursday, where the president dismissed allegations that his administration plans to transform Nigeria into a one-party state.
Tinubu's Controversial Statement
During his address, President Tinubu had stated: "To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error."
The president also mentioned that he was pleased that opposition parties are in disarray and indicated he would not help them organize themselves.
Ologbondiyan's Response
"We never expected Mr. President to come to the public arena and declare that he knows nothing about the plot to bring up the one-party state," Ologbondiyan said during the interview.
The former PDP spokesperson further expressed concern about the electoral process, noting: "I have not seen when he spoke on the need to reform the electoral process. Even in that remark, Mr. President said he has not seen any means in INEC to say that INEC should not register any parties, but those who have filed for registration have come out to say they have been refused registration."
Ologbondiyan cited a specific case where a group had reportedly completed all registration processes for a new political party but has yet to receive their certificate despite multiple follow-ups.
"It is also strange to me that Mr. President will come up and say 'oh forever and ever I will never be involved in a one-party plot,' but the design of the party, even members of his own cabinet have come out to ask even on Channels TV to say where will they find a party to contest on," he added.
The former PDP spokesman concluded that the president doesn't necessarily need to explicitly direct INEC not to register opposition parties for there to be concerns about democratic space in Nigeria.
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