Veteran journalist and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Dele Momodu, has described President Bola Tinubu’s growing political influence as worse than what Nigeria experienced under the late military ruler, Sani Abacha. Mr Momodu, who is the Deputy Director-General of the ADC’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, made the remarks on Wednesday evening during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time.
This came hours after Mr Tinubu inaugurated the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 election. The ADC chieftain criticised the inclusion of opposition politicians, including Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the APC campaign structure. He likened the development to the political consolidation witnessed during the Abacha era.
“Today, Tinubu has virtually taken over everything: the executive, the legislature, the judiciary. Almost everything under Tinubu is worse than what we fought against,” Mr Momodu said. He was responding to concerns that Nigeria could be moving towards a one-party dominant system ahead of the 2027 election. Former vice-president and ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also criticised the expanded campaign council, describing it as a “crowded confession of Tinubu’s fear”.
Atiku accused the president of using political alliances to shield his administration from criticism over economic hardship and insecurity. Mr Tinubu inaugurated his presidential campaign council in Abuja on Wednesday as political parties intensify preparations for the 16 January 2027 presidential election. The council includes several serving politicians outside the APC, notably Mr Adeleke, Mr Soludo and Mr Wike, who have been assigned roles relating to the president’s campaign in their respective areas.
Mr Momodu said the participation of opposition politicians does not necessarily translate into support for the president among voters in their states.