Democracy not one-party show, Makinde tells political class

By Oluseye Ojo

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has warned the political class in Nigeria that the country must not become a one-party state.

He alleged that Nigeria is already witnessing a slow drift toward a one-party state that threatens the very foundation of its democratic identity.

Speaking at the National Summit of Opposition Political Leaders in Ibadan, themed ‘Safeguarding Nigeria’s Democracy: A National Dialogue,’ Makinde argued that the systematic weakening of opposition parties is not merely a partisan issue, but a national emergency.

Addressing a hall of top political figures at the Banquet Hall of the Oyo State Government House, the governor said: ​”Democracy is not destroyed overnight; it is weakened step by step until people begin to feel it no longer works for them

“Once the ability of citizens to choose between real alternatives disappears, what we have may still be called democracy, but it will no longer function as one,” he cautioned.

Makinde was quick to clarify the summit’s intent. He emphasised that the dialogue was born out of a collective ambition for a functional system rather than a conspiracy against any specific individual or a launchpad for 2027 presidential aspirations.

​”This is not a gang-up against one man; and it is not about individual ambitions to be president. It is about the survival of a system that allows Nigeria to remain open, competitive, and accountable.”

The governor invoked the historical weight of the host city – Ibadan, noting that Ibadan served as the site for the landmark 1950 constitutional discussions.

He framed the current summit as a continuation of that legacy, which he described as a necessary, deliberate effort to protect the structure of the nation.

The governor stated further that democracy is defined by the existence of real alternatives, not the success of a single party. He stressed that credible opposition is not a threat to the state; it is the vital organ that sustains accountability.

Makinde urged leaders to avoid fragmentation and silence, stating that Nigeria has come too far to neglect the health of its political competition.

The governor warned that the consequences of a weakened opposition would be felt by all Nigerians, regardless of their party affiliation.

​”No matter how strong any party becomes… the presence of credible opposition is what sustains democracy. If we allow it to weaken, whether by design or by neglect, then we all bear the consequences,” he cautioned.