Sule Lamido, the former Governor of Jigawa State, has sharply criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that the President is using state mechanisms to pressure political opponents into joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) and eroding democratic principles in Nigeria.
Speaking at his office in Kano on Tuesday, Lamido claimed that Nigeria’s political environment has undergone a troubling transformation over the past 25 years, with President Tinubu actively dismantling the opposition and intimidating dissenters.
Lamido cited the case of Ifeanyi Okowa, the former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice presidential candidate, who was reportedly facing a N1.3 trillion corruption charge from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). According to Lamido, the case inexplicably disappeared after Okowa switched allegiance to the APC.
“Tinubu is altering Nigeria’s political space. He is trying to destroy the opposition. People are scared because anyone who speaks up becomes a target,” Lamido said.
He further referenced former APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, who previously stated that joining the APC essentially guarantees immunity: “As Oshiomhole noted, regardless of one’s transgressions, affiliation with the APC leads to forgiveness. This incentivizes those with a sense of guilt to join the APC, posing a significant threat to our democracy.”
Lamido expressed concern that the current political climate is leading to panic among politicians, prompting talks of new alliances. However, he dismissed the credibility of these discussions, stating that today’s proposed coalitions lack the structure and legitimacy of past efforts.
He contrasted the present scenario with the 2014 coalition that birthed the APC, describing it as an alliance of political institutions, including Buhari’s CPC, Tinubu’s ACN, the ANPP led by several governors, and defectors from the PDP, including a sitting President, Speaker, and multiple governors.
“In contrast, what we are seeing now is just a gathering of individuals Atiku, Peter Obi, El-Rufai, and others — rather than a merger of strong political institutions,” he said. “This is why I do not endorse it.”
Lamido’s remarks underscore growing unease within opposition ranks, as political figures voice concerns over the use of state power to reshape party loyalties and weaken democratic accountability.
