President Bola Tinubu has openly mocked Nigeria’s opposition parties, declaring that he has no intention of helping them resolve their internal divisions.
His remarks reflect a firm stance against aiding political rivals struggling with unity.
While addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, Tinubu said, “I will not advise the opposition to put its house in order and I will not help them put their house in order. It is indeed a pleasure to see you in disarray.”
The occasion was part of the Democracy Day celebration, where Tinubu delivered a State of the Nation address before lawmakers and other dignitaries at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
His statement comes as several opposition figures continue to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), reinforcing the party’s political dominance across the country.
Tinubu also dismissed suggestions that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party system, insisting that the realignment is a result of public confidence in the APC, not a deliberate effort to weaken the opposition.
The crisis in the opposition parties appears to validate the president’s position.
In the Labour Party, deep divisions persist between the Julius Abure-led leadership and factions loyal to other interest groups, leading to multiple court cases and conflicting claims over the party’s structure.
In the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP, the battle for control between the camp of its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other founding members has led to parallel national conventions and suspensions, leaving the party fractured ahead of future elections.
For the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it has been an internal turmoil.
Since the 2023 elections, the party has struggled to recover from the fallout of the G5 governors’ rebellion and continues to deal with a lingering leadership crisis at the national level.
Efforts to unify the party have repeatedly stalled, weakening its ability to present a coherent opposition.
The works of the Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation committee suffered a major setback with the FCT Minister Nyesome Wike pulled out, citing insincerity on the part of some party leaders.
The widening cracks in these parties have created an opening for the APC to expand its influence unchallenged, a reality that Tinubu has now publicly acknowledged and welcomed.
