Tinubu denies one-party plot, mocks opposition over defections
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working towards a one-party system, saying opposition parties are simply collapsing due to internal problems.
Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly to mark 25 years of democracy, on Thursday, June 12, 2025, Tinubu said, “Those who fear a one-party state should fix their own houses. I will not help you do so. It is a pleasure to witness you in disarray.”
His comments come amid a string of defections into the APC, including Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo), sparking concern among opposition leaders.
“There is no evidence of any plan to eliminate opposition,” Tinubu said. “People are free to associate. If your house is leaking, don’t blame the neighbor whose roof is intact.”
He also defended his administration’s economic reforms, acknowledging the hardship they have caused but insisting they were necessary to stabilise the economy. “We are not where we want to be, but we are no longer where we were,” he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his welcome address, called for the creation of a June 12 Democracy Museum to preserve the legacy of Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement. He praised Tinubu’s role in resisting military rule and urged continued reform and cooperation between the executive and legislature.
The session ended with lawmakers approving a motion for the President to deliver a yearly State of the Nation address from the National Assembly every Democracy Day.