A senior figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, has sounded a stark warning: Nigeria’s democracy is being quietly but systematically weakened, and unless opposition forces rise above division, the country risks sliding into a dangerous one-party reality.
Speaking on a Nigerian Television Authority programme, Political Update, the former Deputy National Chairman (South-South) dismissed current political developments as routine rivalry, insisting instead that they reflect a coordinated assault on multiparty democracy.
“This is not politics as usual,” Ogidi declared bluntly. “There is a deliberate attempt to suffocate opposition voices. If we don’t resist it collectively, we may wake up to a democracy in name only.”
According to him, ongoing consultations between the PDP and other political platforms are not opportunistic alliances but urgent survival tactics aimed at preserving democratic balance. He revealed that engagements are already underway with parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Accord Party to forge a united front.
Ogidi alleged that a troubling pattern has emerged, one where opposition unity efforts are repeatedly sabotaged by sudden legal entanglements. He described this as a “legal virus,” a weaponised tactic deployed to fracture cohesion and derail momentum whenever rival parties begin to align.
“Each time unity gains ground, mysterious legal crises erupt. It is not coincidence, it is a pattern. And we must stop pretending otherwise,” he said, warning that personal ambition must give way to collective survival if democracy is to endure.
He did not spare his own party, admitting that the PDP is battling internal sabotage, with some members openly fraternising with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Such duplicity, he said, strikes at the heart of party discipline and raises serious questions about integrity.
“You cannot claim loyalty to one party while working for another. That is political betrayal, plain and simple,” Ogidi stated.
Looking ahead, he raised alarm over the credibility of future elections, cautioning that the current trajectory could erode public trust in the democratic process.
“If this continues, Nigerians may be denied the free and fair elections they deserve. That should worry everyone who believes in democracy,” he warned.
On the speculation surrounding a possible return of former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2027, Ogidi acknowledged the growing calls, describing Jonathan as a stabilising figure with global respect. However, he noted that legal and political hurdles could complicate any such ambition.
“Jonathan remains a respected voice and a member of our fold. But the reality is that the system itself may throw up obstacles,” he said.
Despite nearing 70 and contemplating retirement, Ogidi said Nigeria’s worsening conditions have forced him to stay in the fray.
“I had hoped to step back after decades in politics, but the country is at a crossroads. Those of us who have benefited from this system cannot abandon it now,” he said.
He pointed to rising hardship across the country as a wake-up call for citizens and leaders alike, condemning what he described as reactive and indifferent governance.
“There is hunger everywhere. Leadership must anticipate problems, not wait for them to explode. Nigerians deserve sincerity, not excuses,” he added.
In a final, cutting rebuke of the political class, Ogidi urged leaders to abandon self-interest and prioritise the welfare of citizens, warning that continued neglect could push public frustration to dangerous levels.
“Politics is not a game to be played with people’s lives. Leadership must improve conditions, not deepen suffering,” he said.
His message was clear and uncompromising: Nigeria’s democracy is under threat—not from the ballot, but from within—and only unity, courage, and accountability can stop its slow erosion.
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