Bishops Sound Alarm: Tinubu Government Accused of Steering Nigeria Toward One-Party State

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has issued a stern warning to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, cautioning that Nigeria risks sliding into a one-party state if the ongoing suppression of opposition voices is not halted.

This warning was contained in a strongly worded communiqué released at the end of the bishops’ plenary meeting, which held in Akwa Ibom State and concluded on Friday, September 19, 2025. The statement was signed by Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, President of CBCN, and Bishop Donatus Ogun of Uromi, the Secretary.

The bishops lamented what they described as an alarming obsession with power among Nigeria’s political class, accusing leaders of abandoning governance in pursuit of the 2027 elections.

“In the face of many live threats, politicians are more preoccupied with securing and retaining power and less concerned with good governance for the common good of the electorate,” the communiqué read. “Abandoning their duties, they seem more concerned with personal political agendas and perfecting strategies to grasp power in 2027.”

The clerics expressed grave concern about the shrinking space for opposition voices, warning that Nigeria’s democracy could be fatally undermined.

“In fact, there seems to be suppression of opposition as Nigeria appears to be tilting to a one-party state, the development of which is not a good omen for democracy,” they declared.

They also condemned the endless cycle of defections and political realignments, describing them as acts driven by selfish ambition rather than the pursuit of national progress.

“We observe that many politicians are merely strategising, aligning and realigning, defecting from one party to another, and posturing for future political offices with little or no intention to contribute to the common good or improve the lives of citizens,” the bishops noted.

Demand for Electoral Reforms and Judicial Neutrality

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, the bishops renewed calls for sweeping electoral reforms, insisting that transparency and credibility must be guaranteed. They specifically urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement electronic transmission of results directly from polling units with real-time collation.

Equally, they underscored the vital role of the judiciary in preserving democracy. “The judiciary must remain impartial in electoral matters,” the communiqué stated, warning that erosion of public trust in the courts would destabilise the country.

Since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, the country’s democracy has been marred by weak institutions, questionable elections, and the overwhelming dominance of ruling parties. Civil society groups and opposition leaders have long accused successive governments of weaponising state power to silence critics.

With the 2027 general elections looming, recent mass defections of politicians to ruling parties and controversial court rulings have further heightened fears of democratic backsliding.

The CBCN’s intervention, therefore, adds to mounting pressure on the government to safeguard multiparty democracy, uphold judicial integrity, and strengthen electoral credibility before it is too late.