Obi also encouraged Nigerian citizens who value unity, peace, and national security to take a stand.
By Kehinde Okeowo
The Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy by rising up against moves to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
Obi, who is now an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, issued the warning on Wednesday via a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) page.
His call follows allegations by the ADC that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is blocking it from fielding candidates ahead of the 2027 general election, as the deadline for the submission of processes nears.
In a statement issued on Monday by its national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said: “We are compelled to raise serious concerns about a developing situation that appears designed to prevent the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections.”
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While encouraging citizens to reject a one-party arrangement, Obi assured members of the ADC and other pro-democracy Nigerians that they were united in opposing any attempt to weaken the nation’s multi-party structure.
The former Anambra State governor also urged Nigerians who value unity, peace, and national security to take a stand.
He further cautioned that any effort to erode political plurality would harm the country’s democratic growth and stability.
The statement read in part: “We, members and leaders of the ADC, alongside other well-meaning Nigerians and lovers of democracy, insist that our democracy must not be undermined. We reject any move towards a one-party system and call on all Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security to join us in defending our democracy.”
