ABUJA — The African Renaissance Movement (ARM) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of systematically stifling opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The allegation was made in a statement issued Monday by the group’s Convener, Dr. Aliyu Audu.
Dr. Audu, who recently resigned as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, claimed that President Tinubu is colluding with key figures, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the National Assembly, and segments of the ruling elite, to suppress dissent and weaken Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
“The Tinubu-Wike axis, if unchecked, threatens to upend this balance,” Audu said. “Their apparent mission to decimate opposition and suppress civic dissent is a regression into authoritarian rule with far-reaching consequences for our economy, governance, and national morality.”
He warned that political suppression could also derail Nigeria’s economic progress. “The liberalisation of the economy without political pluralism is an illusion,” he said, noting that a free market thrives on the exchange of diverse ideas and the protection of dissent.
According to Audu, a shrinking political space inevitably leads to economic stagnation, with job losses, declining innovation, and a weakened national spirit. “A monopolised political order breeds monopolistic economic tendencies. And a silenced opposition cripples the moral and spiritual fabric of a nation,” he added.
He urged civil society groups, the judiciary, the media, religious and traditional institutions, and all well-meaning Nigerians to take lawful action in defence of Nigeria’s democracy.
“This is not just a political issue; it is a moral reckoning,” Audu declared.
The statement marks a bold challenge to the Tinubu administration from within its former ranks and highlights growing tensions in the build-up to the 2027 polls.
