Distinguished constitutional lawyer, Professor Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has cautioned that Nigeria may be drifting—perhaps unknowingly—toward a one-party political system, a direction he believes could culminate in absolute authoritarianism unless citizens push back.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Saturday, Ozekhome voiced alarm over the nation’s current political atmosphere. He criticized the widespread trend of defections among politicians, describing it as “bootlicking at its highest level.”
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He observed that these movements across party lines reflect an absence of political ideology, with many elected officials seemingly more invested in personal ambition than in genuine public service or party loyalty.
“It’s like beans, akara, and moi-moi; they’re the same,” Ozekhome stated, criticising the lack of scruples among those who switch parties.
According to him, the growing lack of ideological distinction among political actors poses a grave threat to the democratic process, as it opens the door for a single party to dominate unchallenged.
“In a one-party state, dictatorship reigns supreme.Everybody will agree. National Assembly pocketed, judiciary will be pocketed, and everybody will be saying ‘yes, yes, yes,’” he said.
To support his point, the legal luminary referred to the case of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which once governed Nigeria for 16 years and projected a 60-year reign—only to collapse due to internal crises.
Ozekhome, a human rights advocate further observed that President Bola Tinubu has strategically positioned trusted allies in key government institutions. If this trend continues alongside a fragmented opposition, he warned, the 2027 general elections might result in Tinubu “virtually [running] against himself.
”He also expressed concern over what he perceives as the general public’s passive acceptance of worsening socio-economic conditions, likening their behavior to a form of psychological captivity.
He said many Nigerians, overwhelmed by hardship, have become resigned rather than resistant, which contributes to what he described as a climate of “helplessness and hopelessness.
“Ozekhome called on citizens to remain vigilant and proactive in the face of these challenges. He reminded the Nigerian people that ultimate authority resides with them—not the political elite.
“The power is yours; it is not theirs,” he affirmed, urging the public to take responsibility for protecting the country’s democracy before it erodes completely.
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