₦airaland Forum

Former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has expressed skepticism over the prospect of ruling All Progressives Congress maintaining long-term dominance, citing historical examples from the country’s political past.

He argued that Nigeria’s democracy is not under threat from a one-party state but rather from the weakness of political parties themselves, which he said lack ideology, internal democracy, and active citizen engagement.

Gambari, founder and chairman of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, made the remarks on Wednesday while engaging with journalists in Abuja about the Centre’s activities.

He emphasised that history shows repeated attempts to establish dominant-party rule in Nigeria have consistently failed.

According to Gambari, Nigeria’s democratic challenge lies in political parties functioning primarily as vehicles for power rather than principled institutions.

He said, “I am not at all worried about this country becoming a one-party state. It will not happen, if history is any guide. We don’t even know our own history. This administration is not the first to try to have a dominant party in Nigeria. Right from the beginning, the NPC was a dominant party in the First Republic. They didn’t discourage the main opposition; in fact, they took sides. Where has that led us? It didn’t lead to peace or development; it led to chaos.”

He recalled the National Party of Nigeria and the People’s Democratic Party as further examples.

“The NPN became so confident they felt they would rule forever. What happened? It didn’t work. PDP, not long ago, boasted they would rule for 60 years. Where are they today? So any effort to make this country one-party will not succeed. Often, it will fail for the wrong reasons, because political elites are too ambitious to be contained within one party. It will break,” he said.

Gambari stressed the importance of learning from history before crises occur.

“But let’s not wait for disaster to happen. Let’s build political parties. That’s what has been missing. We have not paid enough attention as a people to political parties. How many of us here actually belong to a political party? How many attend meetings? That is the problem. In the First Republic, party members had cards, paid dues, and consulted on candidates. There was a bond between leaders and parties at various levels.”

The former Foreign Affairs Minister said organised and ideologically distinct political parties would prevent any attempt to establish a one-party state.

“Strong political parties make a one-party state impossible. But because we have no organized parties, our parties have become just vehicles to gain political power. Political parties are often just flags of convenience. Weak parties, not a one-party state, are the threat to Nigeria’s democracy.”

He highlighted the absence of ideological differences today, noting, “In the First Republic, crossing from NPC to NCNC or Action Group was significant. Today, one can be APC in the morning, PDP in the afternoon, and APC again the next day with no consequences. In other systems, if you switch after being elected under one platform, your seat is declared vacant and you must contest again. Otherwise, you live under false pretenses.”

Gambari urged Nigerians to prioritise the organisation and strength of political parties, warning that without this, citizens must accept the consequences of weak party systems.


“How long are we going to keep complaining about the people who rule us when the parties represent nobody and no ideology? Multiparty democracy requires commitment and organization, and we all have roles to play.”

His comments come amid opposition concerns over defections to the APC, which some fear could be aimed at creating a one-party dominance. Recent governors who switched from PDP to APC include Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers). Several other prominent politicians, including legislators, former governors, and ministers, have also defected.

President Bola Tinubu and APC leaders, however, have repeatedly denied any plan to establish a one-party state in Nigeria.

AMINDA:
The Buhari bloc have since parted ways with Tinubu. He's running an ACN affair while thinking he's a monarch.

Hedonisco:
E go soon clear for him eyes. I don't understand how he can arrogantly run an 'in your face' Yoruba government, even with such a thin, barely legitimate 'mandate' of 8 million allocated votes. It is shocking but also revealing.

We will all be here to shut down any attempted revisionism by yoruba 'democracy hacktivists' when tomorrow comes.

treesun:
https://punchng.com/gambari-doubts-apc-long-rule-cites-npc-npn-pdp-cases/

Lastmankc:
The druggie and the urinating machine,with his urchins we experience a rude shock very soon

benardtotti:
He highlighted the absence of ideological differences today, noting, “In the First Republic, crossing from NPC to NCNC or Action Group was significant. Today, one can be APC in the morning, PDP in the afternoon, and APC again the next day with no consequences. In other systems, if you switch after being elected under one platform, your seat is declared vacant and you must contest again. Otherwise, you live under false pretenses.”


Reminds me of 2 politicians:

Politician A : Pdp in the morning, Apc in the afternoon, back to Pdp in the evening and now Adc in the midnight 😀.

Politician B : Apga in the morning, Pdp in the afternoon, Lp in the evening and now Adc in the midnight.

Only dunderheads take both Politicians seriously.

Kog45:
So you can be happy with prof Gambari the man that Abacha used to appeal to United Nations the reason why Ken Saro Wiwa must die and he did it perfectly....many of you don't know Nigeria history,hating Tinubu doesn't mean we should lose our senses....the same prof Gambari has not once condemned the killing and kidnapping going on in his state Kwara but here talking about the system he was and he is still part of till date....mind you his son is going for Kwara governor come 2027 under the same APC,by the time politicians uses us finished we go understand wetin dey

iwaeda:
Tinubu is one term. Let me just LOL.

Irony1:
Dude stop trying to disinform people. The article has nothing tp do with these people. This format of yours don cast since.

AMINDA:
The Buhari bloc have since parted ways with Tinubu. He's running an ACN affair while thinking he's a monarch.

mrvitalis:
Like!!!! it's makes no sense at all
A minority president, with very unpopular policies yet playing in your face nepotism in his first tenure?? Makes no sense to me what so ever


The little chance he has now is simply because Igbos are reluctant to go the way Yoruba went in 2015 ... If Igbos agree to be vice to a northern candidate with an Igbo vice... Tinubu is gone by 12 noon

CorperKola:
Now is the time for southern solidarity
Let us all support our son Tinubs to reign for 8
complete years

Hedonisco:
E go soon clear for him eyes. I don't understand how he can arrogantly run an 'in your face' Yoruba government, even with such a thin, barely legitimate 'mandate' of 8 million allocated votes. It is shocking but also revealing.

We will all be here to shut down any attempted revisionism by yoruba 'democracy hacktivists' when tomorrow comes.

11 years down the line, APC couldn't outshine the PDP and yet thinks it can continue in power indefinitely.
History tends to repeat itself we wait and watch!!!

Hedonisco:
E go soon clear for him eyes. I don't understand how he can arrogantly run an 'in your face' Yoruba government, even with such a thin, barely legitimate 'mandate' of 8 million allocated votes. It is shocking but also revealing.

We will all be here to shut down any attempted revisionism by yoruba 'democracy hacktivists' when tomorrow comes.