A policy strategist, Baba Yusuf, has warned that Nigeria’s democracy is facing serious danger as opposition parties weaken, defections surge and political participation becomes increasingly hollow, arguing that the country is “moving borderline absolute power” with grave consequences for governance.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Yusuf said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is “in tatters” and effectively “winding down,” describing the wave of defections as part of a long-standing political pattern rather than an isolated development.
“I know the PDP people don’t want to hear this, but we’ve seen that the party is in tatters and it’s basically winding down given the political trend in Nigeria and the disposition and character of Nigerian politicians,” he said.
Yusuf argued that the current dominance of the ruling party mirrors earlier periods in Nigeria’s political history, noting that similar mass movements occurred during the PDP’s heyday when it controlled most state governments.
“This is why I call it a trend. Remember during the heydays of PDP, they had about 20-something governors as well. That tells you about the character and disposition of Nigerian politicians,” he said.
He described many politicians as lacking ideological commitment, accusing them of pursuing power through convenience rather than conviction.
“Most Nigerian politicians do not want to pay their dues. They are political front-loaders, political gallivanters. All they want is low-hanging fruit, and that tells you what their ideology really is,” Yusuf stated.
According to him, this culture has weakened opposition politics and eroded democratic safeguards such as checks and balances.
“Democracy is about participatory politics and checks and balances. What we are seeing now is a situation that may be close to a dictatorial or monarchical system,” he warned.
Yusuf said the danger is compounded by the failure of political elites to invest time, resources and personal sacrifice into building strong party institutions.
“If you want opposition to work, you must be willing to sacrifice. You can’t do opposition by issuing press statements alone,” he said.
He added that political parties have been hollowed out by money politics, leaving them vulnerable to capture by wealthy individuals.
“When a political party cannot build a national secretariat, cannot pay salaries or even pay its bills, it creates an opportunity for one individual to come in and seize control,” Yusuf explained.
On the growing influence of so-called “moneybags,” he said party members often surrender their rights willingly.
“When somebody pays your dues for five years and you rejoice, you are waiving your rights within the party,” he said, stressing that democracy derives legitimacy from popular participation, not elite patronage.
Yusuf also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing it of excessive opacity and overreach in party administration.
“The way INEC manages the administration of political parties is very dangerous. They cannot help courts determine what is legitimate and what is not,” he said.
He questioned INEC’s handling of party recognition, by-elections and party registration, describing its conduct as inconsistent with the rule of law.
“They are under the law. They cannot create their own world,” Yusuf added.
Warning of broader consequences, Yusuf said Nigeria risks sliding into a de facto one-party system if political actors and citizens fail to act.
“It is a collective failure — of politicians and, by extension, of Nigerians — because we allow these people to play this game with us,” he said.
He concluded with a stark caution:
“Unless we change that mindset, this will continue, and it will get worse. The question we must ask is: is Nigeria becoming a one-party state? Because that is dangerous.”
Boluwatife Enome
Follow us on:
