Tinubu’s Power in Nigeria Is Worse Than Abacha’s - Dele Momodu

Veteran journalist and member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s growing power is worse than what Nigeria faced under the late military ruler, Sani Abacha.

Mr Momodu, who is the Deputy Director-General of the ADC’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, made these comments on Wednesday night during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time.

This discussion came shortly after Mr Tinubu set up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.

The ADC leader criticized the inclusion of opposition politicians like Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the APC campaign team. He compared this move to the political control seen during the Abacha era.

“Today, Tinubu has virtually taken over everything: the executive, the legislature, the judiciary. Almost everything under Tinubu is worse than what we fought against,” Mr Momodu said.

He was addressing fears that Nigeria might head towards a one-party system before the 2027 elections. Former vice-president and ADC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also criticized the enlarged campaign council, calling it a “crowded confession of Tinubu’s fear.” Atiku accused the president of forming political alliances to protect his government from criticism about economic struggles and insecurity.

On Wednesday, Mr Tinubu launched his presidential campaign council in Abuja as political parties ramp up their preparations for the presidential election on January 16, 2027. The council includes several politicians outside the APC, especially Mr Adeleke, Mr Soludo, and Mr Wike, who will play roles related to the president’s campaign in their states.

Mr Momodu pointed out that having opposition politicians on the council does not guarantee that their voters will support the president. He doubted whether governors could transfer their personal political support to Mr Tinubu.

“Osun people… supported Ademola Adeleke because he performed, but that support is not unconditional,” he said.

The ADC leader also dismissed claims that the presence of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Mr Tinubu in the 2027 race would split the opposition vote in a way that helps the current president. These three politicians are among the 18 candidates listed by INEC for the January election. Mr Tinubu is running on the APC platform, Mr Abubakar on the ADC platform, and Mr Obi on the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) platform.

Mr Momodu argued that the ADC candidate remains a strong contender in the election. He mentioned that Atiku’s experience as a former vice president and his political influence in the northern states would make him a competitive candidate.

Mr Momodu also claimed that Mr Tinubu has “proliferated INEC with people from Yoruba land,” suggesting that these appointments could harm trust in the commission’s fairness.

INEC has published the final list of 18 presidential candidates for the January 2027 election and is also working on the revised electoral timetable. Mr Momodu said opposition parties are quietly planning to counter what he calls the ruling party’s increasing political power.

“We are not going to come in public and say this, but we know what to do to make sure that he does not get that second term. And we also know that some of the people pretending to support him today, and I’m not trying to trivialize this thing. I know some of them; they are praying fervently that they will not have to go through this thing where governors become like houseboys,” he said.