A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, Babachir Lawal, has ruled out the possibility of a one-party state gaining a foothold in Nigeria’s democracy.
The wave of defections from members of the opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress, has in some quarters sparked concerns about the country’s democracy tilting towards a political system in which a political party holds power and controls government without opposition parties.
However, the prospect received blessings from the ruling party, with President Bola Tinubu saying: “I am glad of what we have and I am expecting more. That is the game. We are in a constitutional democracy.”
To Lawal, it won’t come to fruition due to the ways Nigerian politicians are wired.
He said, politicians in this clime have an established custom of changing party after losing primaries.
“It isn’t possible in Nigeria, because if I lose to you on one platform, I will be looking for another platform. That’s how we are! Nobody accepts defeat and just say, okay. He will go to another platform to seek the ticket.
“So, Nigeria can’t be a one party state. If I contest House of Assembly election in my local government, and I am defeated and I noticed another party that is yet to do their primary, I will quickly defect to that party, contest there and take it. That’s how it is going to happen. It has happened over and over in our country and it will happen. Eventually, those who fall out from the ruling party at the primaries and convention, they will move to us. That’s how Nigeria is. And they will strengthen the system; that’s how we are,” he told Tribune.
