There is no credible opposition party in Nigeria, a dangerous situation – Augakoba

When Nigeria marked 26 years of uninterrupted Democratic government, Nigeria’s famous supporters and senior (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, had lamented that there was no correct or credible opposition party in the country.

Speaking in television politics Channels today on Friday night, former President Nigeria’s Bar Association described Nigeria’s democratic journey as “half -full glass,” noted that while his continuity was praiseworthy, the substance of Nigerian democracy continued to weaken.

He regretted that the country’s political culture was still very relying on the structure of the monolithic party, where loyalty to the ruling party exceeded ideological diversity or policy innovation.

“We do not have a strong multi-party democratic system. We still have a situation where everyone wants to join the national elite party, whether it is PDP, APGA, or APC, Manifesto is no different,” he observed. “There is no clear ideological difference, there is no credible or institutionalized opposition and this is dangerous for the consolidation of democracy.”

He continued, “The fact that we have done 26 years without interruption, I want to see it as a half -full glass. I like to be optimistic and say that it is a long journey and that we have traveled far from military times,” said Agbakoba.

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While he acknowledged the importance of a sustainable civilian government since 1999, Agbakoba warned that this nation still has many things to cover in developing multiparty democracy that is truly strong.

Agbakoba comments echoed the concern that Nigerian political landscape did not have the checks and balance needed to deepen democratic practices. The tendency of politicians to flock to any party has power, he said, weakens the integrity of the election system and damage accountability.

Even the President of the Tinubu Bola, in his new speech to the joint session of the National Assembly, acknowledged that the country’s democracy was still an ongoing job.

For Agbakoba, the path to healthier democracy involves not only holding elections but fostering an excited and competitive political ecosystem in which the opposition parties are ideologically different and strong in institutionally.

“We still have a long path,” he concluded, “but recognizing the gap is the first step to build a truly democratic society.”