National Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, has warned President Bola Tinubu against actions capable of shrinking Nigeria’s democratic space, saying there is little difference between a civilian dictator and a military ruler when constitutional institutions are undermined.

Dickson made the remarks during the Diplomatic Digest 6th Anniversary Lecture, according to a statement shared on the official social media page of the Nigeria Democratic Congress on Friday.

The former governor said Nigeria’s democratic gains must be protected by ensuring respect for the Constitution, judicial independence, a free press and an electoral body that enjoys public confidence.

“Democracy is not a sprint; it is a marathon. There are twists and turns, as well as ups and downs. What is important is a commitment to democratic governance, observance of the rule of law, democratic principles, a free and independent media, an impartial judiciary, and an electoral body that is truly independent and enjoys the confidence and trust of the people.

“Without these essential elements, there is little difference between a civilian dictator and a military dictator,” Dickson said.

The NDC leader acknowledged that Nigeria had moved beyond military rule but cautioned that elected leaders must not weaken democratic institutions while claiming to uphold democracy.

He said democratic values were coming under increasing pressure across Africa, particularly within the ECOWAS sub-region, warning that Nigeria’s leadership role in the region was being weakened.

“It is unfortunate that, under the APC government and its dysfunctional foreign policy, ECOWAS has weakened before our very eyes. The emergence of breakaway blocs, such as the Alliance of Sahel States, does not speak well of Nigerian leadership,” he stated.

Dickson urged President Tinubu to ensure state institutions were not used for partisan interests, warning that governments perceived as oppressive or operating above the Constitution would eventually lose public confidence.

“When a government is perceived as oppressive, dictatorial, and above the Constitution and the institutions of the state, it inevitably loses the confidence and support of its citizens.

“When a government or political party begins to see itself as bigger than the nation, the Constitution, the judiciary, and other democratic institutions, it loses legitimate and popular support. This remains one of the greatest threats to democracy in the ECOWAS sub-region and in Africa in general,” he added.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his defence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that the electoral body has not done enough to earn Nigerians’ confidence.

Okonkwo spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday while reacting to Tinubu’s recent remarks that INEC remained neutral despite criticisms from opposition parties.

The ADC chieftain accused the President of speaking on behalf of the electoral commission instead of addressing public concerns about its credibility.

“It is very sad. Any country that has a president who has morphed into the chief spokesperson of INEC is in trouble,” Okonkwo said.

He questioned the President’s assertion that the electoral umpire was impartial, insisting that unresolved issues from the 2023 general election continued to cast doubt on the commission’s neutrality.

“You can imagine President Tinubu telling the whole world that INEC is neutral. The same Tinubu who, during the 2015 campaign, said they would form a parallel government if INEC rigged the election.

“The same people who were once critical of INEC are now saying INEC is neutral. An INEC that recorded a technical glitch in 2023 and has not satisfactorily explained it to Nigerians cannot simply be declared neutral.

We are urging INEC to be neutral; as of today, it is not,” he said.

Okonkwo, who is also a spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election, argued that Tinubu’s performance in office would make it difficult for him to secure a second term.

According to him, the President should step aside rather than seek re-election.

“Tinubu should not even allow the election to hold; he should resign and go in peace,” he said.

The former Labour Party presidential campaign spokesman also commented on the recent Court of Appeal judgment that overturned an earlier ruling directing INEC to deregister the ADC and four other political parties.

He claimed the party had successfully resisted attempts to remove it from Nigeria’s political landscape through the courts.

“I had boasted that ADC does not have any legal challenge because we know the only challenge it has is the APC trying to use some instruments in the judiciary to litigate us out of existence. We resisted them, and they are failing and falling like a pack of cards,” he said.

Okonkwo further accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, alleging that the party was using various means to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, for the 2027 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has said that the power to ensure credible elections lies with the Nigerian people, insisting that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will only act according to the resolve of the electorate.

Obi spoke with journalists on Friday after attending the burial service of the late Pa Simon Okorie Abaa, father of the NDC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Chief Linus Okorie, at Isiama Primary School, Onicha Igboeze, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Speaking on preparations for the 2027 general election, Obi said his confidence was not in INEC alone but in Nigerians’ determination to defend their votes.

“It is not about confidence in INEC. Do I still have confidence in the people? Because it is the people that will determine what INEC will do. If the people insist that their votes will count, their votes will count.

“It is for Nigerians to look at what is happening in the country today and ask themselves what the future holds for our children in this enterprise called Nigeria. Are we going to continue in this direction? Anybody talking about changing Nigeria today is making the ultimate sacrifice because we cannot continue like this,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor lamented the worsening economic situation, saying poverty and hunger had reached alarming levels.

“Every day poverty is increasing. Every day hunger is increasing. You don’t even need World Bank reports to know this because you can see it in the villages.

“They are saying that about 70 million Nigerians are facing acute hunger. What are we going to do about it? Are we going to continue like this? No. That is not possible,” he added.

On concerns that opposition supporters may face intimidation and harassment during the elections, Obi said Nigerians were already suffering from economic hardship.

“For me, every Nigerian is already being harassed by hunger. People are being harassed by the worsening situation in the country. Everybody is affected.

“It is time for Nigerians to tell those who are harassing us that enough is enough,” he said.

Obi described his relationship with Linus Okorie as longstanding, recalling that they had worked together in the Labour Party before joining the NDC.

“We have worked together before in the Labour Party and now we are in the NDC. That shows we have a close relationship. We are here today to pay our last respects to his late father.

“I pray that God Almighty, who gave Papa a long life and has now called him home, will grant him eternal rest and give the family and all of us the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. May God continue to bless the family.”