"Baseless Alarm": Daniel Bwala Knocks SANs Over One-Party State Claims

 

​"Baseless Alarm": Daniel Bwala Knocks SANs Over One-Party State Claims

​The debate over the future of Nigeria’s democracy has taken a sharp turn as Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to President Tinubu and former Atiku Abubakar spokesperson, slammed a group of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) for claiming the country is drifting toward a one-party state.

​Bwala’s reaction highlights a growing friction between the presidency and the legal elite who are increasingly vocal about the ruling party’s expanding influence.

​The "One-Party State" Warning

​The controversy was sparked by several high-ranking lawyers, including Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who have expressed concern over the "gale of defections" to the APC. These legal heavyweights argue that the mass movement of governors and legislators from the PDP and other opposition parties to the APC is creating a political monopoly that could lead to a "civilian dictatorship."

​They warn that without a strong opposition, the constitutional checks and balances required for a healthy democracy will eventually collapse.

​Bwala’s Rebuttal: "The Opposition is its Own Enemy"

​Daniel Bwala, known for his sharp rhetorical style, did not hold back. He dismissed the SANs' claims as an "academic exercise" that ignores political reality. His counter-argument focuses on three main points:

1. ​Freedom of Association: Bwala argues that the Constitution guarantees every politician the right to join any party they choose. He contends that calling these moves "anti-democratic" is actually a slight against the very freedom the lawyers claim to protect.
2. ​Opposition Incompetence: Instead of blaming the APC for becoming too strong, Bwala asserts that the PDP and Labour Party should be blamed for their own internal crises. "The presidency isn't suppressing the opposition," Bwala argued. "The opposition is failing to organize itself."
3. ​Governance Over Politics: He maintains that President Tinubu’s administration is focused on "inclusive governance," and that the influx of new members to the APC is a sign of confidence in the President’s Renewed Hope agenda, not a plot to destroy rival parties.

​Why This Matters

​This clash is more than just a war of words; it reflects the deep polarization of the Nigerian elite:

• ​The Legal Perspective: Law experts fear that a "monopoly of power" will make the judiciary and legislature rubber stamps for the executive.
• ​The Political Perspective: The APC sees its growth as a mandate for stability, viewing the "one-party" label as a narrative used by the opposition to mask their own failures.

​The Verdict

​While the SANs warn of a "dangerous drive" toward a single-party system, Bwala and the APC insist that a strong, unified party is exactly what Nigeria needs to push through difficult economic reforms.

​As more opposition heavyweights cross over to the ruling party ahead of 2027, the line between "political stability" and "democratic erosion" remains a heated topic of debate.

​Your Turn: Is the rise of a dominant party a threat to our democracy, or is the opposition simply failing to give Nigerians a viable alternative? Drop your thoughts below.