Osita Okechukwu, a founding member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has congratulated Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on his re-election victory, describing it as proof that Nigeria is not gravitating towards a one-party state.

Okechukwu, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, also commended President Bola Tinubu for allowing a level playing field during the election, saying the outcome has “rubbished the lie” that the APC was turning Nigeria into a one-party system.

“Soludo’s victory in last Saturday’s Anambra governorship election is an indication that Nigeria is not gravitating towards a one-party state,” he said.

“A lot of people speculated that the APC and, by extension, President Tinubu would rig the election, but the results have shown otherwise.”

Recall that the recent wave of defections from opposition parties into the APC had sparked concerns that Nigeria’s democracy was at risk of becoming a one-party state.

But Okechukwu dismissed such fears, insisting that the defections were driven by the APC’s growing appeal and the “remarkable achievements” of President Tinubu in less than three years in office.

“The defections to the APC are a result of the PDP’s unforced error in breaching the rotation and zoning convention,” said the former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON).

“They also reflect the rising confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership.”
He further recalled that President Tinubu “is in league with progressive patriots who believe that one party is not suitable for democracy anywhere and that citizens must have the right to choose between political associations.”

Responding to claims that Nigeria had become a de-facto one-party state, Okechukwu said: “Those saying that Nigeria has become a de-facto one-party state are speaking out of sheer ignorance of our political history.

“Similar outcries arose in 2004. Did we then anticipate that a Buhari would emerge to stop President Obasanjo’s third-term gambit? Or envisage Peter Obi’s Obedient Movement in the 2023 presidential election?

“There’s no valid fear of a one-party state; what we need is performance, which Soludo has demonstrated.”

He continued, “If APC were truly aiming to confine Nigeria to a one-party state, it could have used the awesome powers at its disposal to shove Professor Soludo aside.

“The cardinal question is: why did the ruling APC lose the Anambra gubernatorial election?”

Quoting President Tinubu, Okechukwu added, “Nigeria is not a one-party state but ruled by one party making the difference.

Read also: INEC declares Soludo winner of Anambra governorship election

“That is why all progressives are working with APC, including APGA, which won last Saturday’s Anambra governorship election landslide.”

Okechukwu noted that political defections were not new in Nigeria, recalling that even during the PDP era, “some of their leaders boasted that they would be in power for 60 years.”

“It took the resilience of President Tinubu and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari to galvanise the opposition to chase them away after they almost ruined the country through maladministration and corruption,” he said.

“Now that APC under President Tinubu is trying to reclaim the country, those whose parties are in disarray want to deceive Nigerians that we are pushing for a one-party state. The victory of Soludo has rubbished their lie.”

While congratulating Governor Soludo on his re-election, Okechukwu urged him to be magnanimous in victory and to carry everyone along in the governance of the state, including his opponents.
He also thanked President Tinubu for ensuring a free and fair contest, describing it as “the hallmark of liberal democracy.”