A lecturer in the department of Political Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Prof Jonah Onuoha, has said that no ruling political party would like to tolerate any opposition. Onuoha, who is also the Director, Centre for American Studies, said this during an interview with our correspondent while explaining that it’s not a crime for one to be in an opposition party.
He said that the majority of the ruling parties in the world, especially in Africa, hate opposition parties because they are afraid that they might wrest power from them if care is not taken. “Opposition is not a crime because the constitution of Nigeria and many countries, especially those practicing democracy, recognise the existence of opposition political parties.
“While the ruling political party is always afraid and jittery about the opposition is because they feel the opposition may wrestle power from them. “Frankly speaking, the ruling party needs opposition to succeed because their comments and criticism help to put the ruling party cabinet on its toes.
“Though some oppositions are not constructive in their criticism as they criticise every policy of the ruling party, not minding whether it’s good or bad,” he said
The don posited that why All Progressive Congress (APC), the ruling party in the country, is jittery on defection of some members to Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), the coalition opposition political parties is because the move might affect the party’s victory in the 2027 general elections.
“Many members who have defected from APC to ADC are from the former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that was part of the merger that produced APC in February 2013. Their allegation is that the President Tinubu administration has not been fair to them in terms of appointments.
“Opinions in some quarters said President Tinubu is not giving many appointments to this late President Muhammadu Buhari’s loyalists because many of them didn’t support him during the 2023 presidential election,” he said.
Onuoha a former Head of Department of Political Science in UNN, however, said that ADC might not stand the test of time or succeed in its dream of winning the presidential election in 2027. The coalition of opposition political parties called ADC is confused and may not be able to win the ruling party in 2027, as they are boasting now.
“Unless the coalition do the needful by merging their political parties with ADC, it will be then Nigerians will take them seriously. As of now ADC is mere coalition that has no political agenda for the country, the only agenda ADC has for now is boasting to win President Tinubu in 2027 general elections.
“Unfortunately, many of them in ADC have not resigned their membership in APC, PDP or LP. They have one leg in ADC and one leg in APC, PDP or LP.
”It is illegal and unconstitutional to be in two political parties at the same time. They will fail INEC screening in 2027 if any of them that has not resigned his/her party membership should buy a form to contest for any electoral position on the platform of ADC in 2027,” Onuoha added.
