A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State and former Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne, has dismissed claims that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is plotting to impose a one-party system in Nigeria.
Ikonne described the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, saying they stem from frustration among opposition figures struggling to remain relevant in the country’s evolving political landscape.
He spoke on the issue during a television programme aired on TVC, themed “Political Realignment: Defections Raise Fear of One-Party System.” According to him, the narrative suggesting that the Federal Government is undermining multiparty democracy does not align with Nigeria’s political history or current realities.
The APC chieftain said the recent wave of defections into the ruling party should not be interpreted as coercion or a grand political conspiracy, but rather as the result of strategic political planning, inclusive leadership, and coalition-building, which he attributed to President Tinubu’s long-standing political philosophy.
Ikonne recalled that the APC itself emerged from a carefully negotiated merger involving the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and other political blocs, a process he said was driven by Tinubu’s commitment to broad-based political cooperation.
He maintained that politicians defecting to the APC are doing so voluntarily, based on their assessment of the direction of governance and the performance of the Tinubu administration. He added that many of the defectors believe their former parties no longer reflect the aspirations of Nigerians and that remaining within such platforms would lead to political stagnation.
Dismissing concerns about intimidation, Ikonne said political performance, vision, and organisation rather than pressure are responsible for attracting politicians and supporters to the ruling party.
He further played down fears of a one-party state, insisting that neither the APC nor President Tinubu has any such agenda. According to him, Nigeria remains a multiparty democracy, as reflected in recent elections, including the Anambra governorship election, where more than 30 political parties participated freely.
Reacting to the activities of opposition leaders forming coalitions, particularly Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, Ikonne criticised the senator’s political relevance, questioning his record in the National Assembly since 2007 and his contribution to legislative and developmental progress.
He expressed doubt over calls for a coalition to unseat President Tinubu, asking whether Nigerians should entrust the nation’s future to politicians whose long years in office have produced limited impact.
Ikonne concluded by stating that democracy thrives on choice, credibility, and performance, rather than fear-mongering. He said the Tinubu administration should be assessed on its policies and reforms, while political parties must earn public trust through ideas and results.