By BONIFACE AKARAH

Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to halt what he described as attempts to foist a one-party state on Nigeria, warning that such actions could undermine the country’s democracy.

In a statement, Adeyanju urged the President to rein in what he termed “anti-democratic forces” operating within and around his government, particularly those allegedly using the courts to frustrate opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“These actions are fundamentally undemocratic and must be halted. The President must recognise that those advising him that a strong opposition threatens his chances of re-election are, in fact, his greatest enemies,” he said.

The activist expressed concern over what he described as sustained efforts to weaken opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

“The sustained efforts to weaken opposition parties… raise serious concerns about an emerging attempt to impose a one-party state,” Adeyanju stated.

He warned that such a development could erode public confidence in democratic institutions and pose risks to national stability.

“Such actions pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy and long-term stability, and risk undermining public confidence in our democratic institutions,” he added.

Adeyanju also called on former presidents and elder statesmen to speak out, describing the moment as critical for Nigeria’s democratic future.

“This is a defining time for our democracy, and all well-meaning Nigerians must stand firmly against any attempt to erode pluralism and democratic choice,” he said.

There was no immediate response from the Presidency as of press time.