A recent declaration by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would collapse before the end of 2025 has stirred fresh political anxiety across Nigeria. The statement, made in response to a comment by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, has reignited fears among Nigerians and political analysts about the country drifting toward a one-party system.
Lamido had predicted an impending implosion of the APC that would force estranged members like Ganduje to return to the PDP. In a swift rebuttal, Ganduje dismissed the former governor’s claims, labeling them as “baseless and illogical,” and asserted that the PDP was effectively “dead.”
“In fact, we will soon receive Sule Lamido because very soon he won’t have anywhere to go,” Ganduje was quoted in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu. “The PDP is dead.”
The APC chairman, who is also the former governor of Kano State, cited internal divisions within the PDP and the ongoing wave of defections to the ruling party as clear signs of its imminent demise. He praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, under which he claimed the APC has gained unprecedented national support.
“With such overwhelming national support, the APC remains focused on consolidating its achievements and preparing for a resounding victory in the 2027 general elections,” Ganduje stated. He reiterated his pride in leading what he called “the largest political party in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa,” and emphasized his commitment to internal democracy and sustainable governance.
However, Ganduje’s remark that Nigeria could emulate China’s one-party model if that were the “wish of Nigerians” has intensified concern over the health of the country’s multiparty democracy.
“China is one of the strongest countries in the world, and it’s a one-party system,” Ganduje remarked. “We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if that is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that.”
This assertion has been met with stiff opposition from political figures and analysts, who argue that the idea of a one-party state is antithetical to Nigeria’s democratic ideals.
Prince Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), strongly refuted the possibility. In an interview with Hobnob News, he emphasized that the stark socioeconomic divide in Nigeria makes a one-party state implausible.
“There cannot be a one-party state when this is not a welfare state,” Adebayo said. “This is a system where the rich travel in private jets paid for by the public, while the poor can’t afford school fees or job security. We are not in a uniform coalition.”
Adebayo argued that defections alone do not constitute a one-party system, pointing instead to legal and structural suppression of opposition as the defining factors.
Also dismissing Ganduje’s vision was Dr. Pogu Bitrus, President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), who expressed confidence in the PDP’s resilience despite current challenges.
“I believe the PDP will bounce back,” he said. “There are issues, yes, but with wise counsel and reforms, the party will remain a formidable force.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Alhaji Yerima Shettima of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) warned against the dangers of one-party dominance.
“It is a dangerous trend for our democracy,” Shettima told DAILY POST. “We must have a system with checks and balances. A one-party state leads to absolute power, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Despite mounting defections and internal crises, the PDP took a bold step forward this week by holding its long-awaited National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, a move seen as a vital stride towards party restoration.
As Nigeria continues to navigate an uncertain political terrain ahead of the 2027 general elections, the debate over the future of the PDP and the balance of democratic power remains central to the national discourse. Whether Ganduje’s prediction comes to pass or the opposition regroups to reclaim relevance, only time—and the voters—will decide.
