By Erewunmi Peace

Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has dismissed fears that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party state, citing the formation of a new political coalition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Fashola argued that the emergence of the coalition disproves long-standing claims about the shrinking of Nigeria’s democratic space. He maintained that the country’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of association and political choice remain intact.

“The emergence of the coalition puts to lie the story that Nigeria was going to become a one-party state,” he said.

While welcoming the development as healthy for democracy, Fashola urged Nigerians to watch closely whether the coalition can endure. According to him, many political alliances in the country have failed to last because of weak ideological foundations and lack of a clear manifesto.

The new coalition, anchored on the ADC platform, brings together opposition figures seeking to challenge the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the next general elections.

Fashola stressed that robust opposition is essential for accountability and good governance but noted that only parties with strong structures and values can stand the test of time.