Political economist and activist Professor Pat Utomi has expressed serious concerns about the current state of political opposition in Nigeria. According to him, political parties have largely lost their voices, and the only significant opposition to the Federal Government today comes from a small number of active citizens on social media platforms.
Concerns raised at the David Oladipo leadership roundtable
Professor Utomi made these remarks during the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable held in Lagos on Tuesday. The event, themed “Nigeria and Opposition Politics,” brought together experts, scholars, and activists to discuss the challenges facing opposition parties in Nigeria’s democracy.
The convener of the event, Dr. David Oladipo, noted that Nigeria is failing to get full value from its democratic system because opposition parties have become too weak to provide viable alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, the opposition’s decline in strength has led to a democracy where there is little challenge to government policies or leadership.
Dr. Oladipo emphasized that opposition politics involves more than just shouting or protesting. He explained that it requires serious intellectual work, including designing policies, proposing practical solutions, and putting forward ideas that can push the ruling party to act in the best interest of the nation.
Professor Utomi’s perspective on opposition challenges
Further commenting on the issue, Professor Utomi lamented that most opposition parties have lost their voices due to a combination of fear of persecution and internal crises. He was represented at the roundtable by Dr. Chidi Okpaluba, President of the Centre for Africa Renaissance, Reformation and Development.
“The only strong opposition we have today is a few active citizens on social media. Outside that, no political party is challenging this government,” Utomi said. He criticized opposition parties for their silence on key issues such as electoral reforms and constitutional violations, which he described as critical threats to Nigeria’s democratic processes.
The professor highlighted that if the electoral system is not reformed, opposition parties will continue to face significant barriers to winning elections. According to him, the current electoral system often disadvantages opposition groups, making it difficult for them to compete fairly against the ruling party.
The broader implications for Nigerian democracy
Participants at the roundtable agreed that the absence of a credible and effective opposition poses a major threat to Nigeria’s democratic survival. They warned that without reforms and increased collaboration among opposition parties, the country risks sliding toward a one-party state where the ruling party holds unchecked power.
Many experts pointed out that a healthy democracy requires a vibrant opposition that can hold the government accountable, offer alternative policies, and engage citizens constructively. Without this, democratic governance risks becoming hollow and ineffective, leading to disillusionment among the public.
Calls for reform and renewed opposition efforts
The roundtable ended with calls for urgent electoral reforms and renewed efforts to strengthen opposition parties. The consensus was that these steps are essential to revitalizing Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring governance becomes more transparent, accountable, and inclusive.
In conclusion, the discussions at the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable shed light on the critical challenges facing opposition politics in Nigeria. With political parties losing their voices and an active opposition limited mostly to social media platforms, there is an urgent need for reform, unity, and intellectual engagement to safeguard the nation’s democratic future.
