A senior analyst with the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, Dengiyefa Angalapu, has raised concerns about Nigeria’s democracy, saying that it’s gradually drifting into a one-party state in practice, despite maintaining a multi-party system on paper.

Angalapu, in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Wednesday said the current political landscape reflects what can be described as a dominant-party system, where one party holds overwhelming power while others struggle to remain relevant.

“Although Nigeria is not constitutionally a one-party state, politically we cannot ignore that the country is now largely a one-party state,” he said.

According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) now controls about 31 out of the 36 states, a development he said has significantly narrowed the political space and reduced choices available to voters.

“With fewer viable options, many voters may feel discouraged from participating in elections,” he explained.

“If people believe their preferred candidates or parties have little chance of winning, they will rationally stay away from the process.”

Angalapu also noted that elections in the country have become increasingly predictable since the 2023 general elections, with only a few exceptions.

“Most elections are now largely uncompetitive and predictable. When that happens, it raises serious questions about the value for money, considering the huge resources spent on conducting elections,” he said.

He warned that declining competitiveness could lead to voter apathy, disillusionment, and frustration among the electorate.

While acknowledging that the wave of defections into the APC may appear beneficial to the party, the analyst cautioned that such dominance could create internal problems over time.

“This trend is not entirely healthy for the party itself,” he said.

“We have seen this before with the PDP, which was once the most dominant political force but later weakened due to internal wrangling and contradictions.”

He pointed out that early signs of internal tension are already emerging within the APC, especially between long-standing members and new entrants competing for control of party structures.

“As we approach the 2027 elections, these tensions are likely to intensify, especially during party primaries where not everyone will secure tickets,” he added.

Angalapu further stressed that Nigeria’s diverse ethnic and religious composition makes it difficult for any single party to maintain long-term dominance without internal conflicts.

“Nigeria is a complex society. Such diversity does not naturally support prolonged one-party dominance without generating contradictions that could destabilise the system,” he said.

He added that while the current political consolidation may boost President Bola Tinubu’s re-election chances, it raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of the system.

“What looks like political strength today may, in time, become the source of internal crisis. Only time will tell how long this experiment will last,” he warned.