Prominent constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, has raised the alarm over what he described as Nigeria’s subtle descent into dictatorship, warning that the country is “gradually drifting towards a one-party state.”
Speaking during an interview on national television, Ozekhome condemned the political culture of indiscriminate party defections and the erosion of ideological values among elected officials. He said the increasing trend of politicians switching parties for personal gain, rather than principle, signals the death of a credible opposition and endangers democracy.
“It’s like beans, akara, and moi-moi all the same,” he quipped, criticizing the lack of distinction among political actors. “In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme,” he warned, adding that once this happens, all arms of government — legislature and judiciary — risk being compromised.
Ozekhome pointed to the concentration of power in the hands of the current administration, alleging that President Bola Tinubu has strategically installed loyalists across critical government sectors. This, he said, could render future elections meaningless if opposition voices continue to weaken.
Drawing historical parallels, he referenced the collapse of the former ruling party, which once
boasted of holding power for 60 years, only to crumble under the weight of its own internal contradictions.
He expressed deep concern over the growing public apathy, likening Nigerians’ silence to a kind of “Stockholm Syndrome,” where citizens, pushed to the brink by hardship, appear too weary to confront those responsible for their plight.
Calling for civic vigilance, Ozekhome urged Nigerians to wake up and reclaim their democratic space. “The power is yours, not theirs,” he said pointedly.
