Nigeria’s Presidency has dismissed recent claims by opposition figures that the country’s democracy is under threat, describing the allegations as a diversionary tactic by politicians struggling to remain politically relevant.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, the Presidency said the opposition’s latest gathering amounted to “political theatre,” rather than a serious intervention on democratic governance.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga argued that politicians defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were doing so voluntarily, driven by confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda.
“Freedom of association is a constitutional right, and no Nigerian is bound to remain in a political party that no longer reflects their convictions,” Onanuga said.
Moreover, the Presidency rejected suggestions that the influx of politicians into the APC signalled an erosion of multiparty democracy, noting that similar defections occurred in previous political eras without raising alarm.
“When politicians moved en masse to the then-ruling party years ago, democracy did not collapse,” the statement added, describing the current outrage as selective and self-serving.
Attention was also drawn to accusations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was being used to target political opponents of the administration.
However, the Presidency insisted that the anti-graft agency operates independently and within the limits of the law, without interference from the President.
“President Tinubu does not instruct any anti-corruption agency on who to investigate or prosecute,” Onanuga said, stressing that accountability cannot be suspended for political convenience.
Furthermore, the statement argued that individuals under investigation should focus on defending themselves through legal channels rather than attacking institutions designed to safeguard public resources.
“It is troubling that those who once promised national renewal are now resisting scrutiny and portraying accountability as persecution,” the Presidency noted.
The statement also recalled that several signatories to the opposition’s claims had faced corruption investigations even before Tinubu assumed office in 2023, while others were reportedly linked to international money laundering cases.
According to the Presidency, such history weakens claims that current investigations are politically motivated.
“No political affiliation offers immunity from the law,” Onanuga said, adding that Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list underscores the credibility of ongoing anti-corruption efforts.
In conclusion, the Presidency urged political actors to refrain from undermining public institutions, warning that politicising anti-corruption work could erode public trust and encourage impunity.
“The fight against corruption is a shared national duty and must not be reduced to propaganda by those seeking to escape accountability,” the statement said.