By Johnson Eyiangho, Eze Okechukwu and Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

As Nigeria celebrated its 26 Democracy Day, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of pursuing “conquest” not “governance,” alleging that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat from creeping authoritarianism, elite cronyism, and institutional subversion under the current administration.

In a strongly worded Democracy Day statement on Thursday, Atiku warned that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is dismantling the democratic foundations hard-won since the historic June 12, 1993, election. He described the current government as one that governs with the intent to dominate, subdue, and silence, adding that Nigeria is teetering on the edge of a “dangerous precipice.”“The ruling party and its federal government now govern with the unmistakable intent to dominate, subdue, and silence,” he said.“Their tactics are not subtle. Opposition voices are being systematically erased. Contracts for multi-billion-naira infrastructure are funnelled to cronies and family associates of the president. National institutions, once symbols of unity, are being brazenly renamed in honour of a sitting president, as though the country were a private estate. What we are witnessing is not governance, it is conquest.“This government represents the lowest ebb in our democratic journey. Institutions have been weaponized. Policies are crafted not to empower the people but to entrench fear, obedience, and control. The common Nigerian has been abandoned at the altar of elite comfort. And make no mistake: this is the antithesis of everything June 12 stands for.”Recalling the sacrifices made during the June 12 struggle, including his own decision to step aside for the late MKO Abiola, Atiku lamented that the ideals for which many died—including Kudirat Abiola, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, and Alfred Rewane—are being eroded.He emphasised that the battle for Nigeria’s democratic soul has reached another critical juncture, calling for a united opposition front not driven by the pursuit of power, but by a moral duty to rescue the country from despotism.“This is not just a political contest; it is a moral crusade,” Atiku said, urging Nigerians to rise in defence of democracy, justice, and national dignity.“As long as oppression thrives, June 12 lives on, not just as memory, but as movement,” he concluded.Democracy in Recession under Tinubu’s Rule – Peter ObiThe Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said democracy has been in recession since President Bola Tinubu took over power two years ago.Obi said this in response to the speech delivered by the President to a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, on Thursday.According to him, after a comprehensive look at the two-year reign of President Tinubu, it was safe to conclude that a lot is not right in governance and policy delivery of the administration.The Ex-Anambra State Governor’s response was contained in a Democracy Day message titled:“Democracy in Decline: Reflecting on Two Years of Tinubu’s Governance.”Obi rated the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) low in virtually all indices of governance including: corruption, prudence, economy insecurity and politics, during the period under review.The LP standard bearer noted that a lot is going wrong and called on the President to note that, “Governing by remote is not what Nigerians need, you need to go round and get firsthand.”He advised the President to stop touring outside Nigeria and use his remaining 2 years to tour the 36 Nigerian states instead.According to him, “Mr. President, you have already made over 30 international trips, spending nearly 150 days abroad. If you tour Nigeria’s 36 states and dedicate just 2 days to tour each state, it would take only 72 days for you to do so, less than half the time you have already spent in other areas of the country on foreign trips. You need to go around the country to see.”Addressing the challenge of deepening democracy, Obi appealed to President Tinubu, “to emulate late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who was honest enough to admit the process that brought him into office was wrong and not sufficiently credible,’ and insisted on rapidly doing what is right to save our democracy.”Obi recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan saved our nascent democracy by accepting defeat even before the election result, announced in the dark.OBI also painted a gory picture of power supply and unemployment, which he pointed out are getting worse while the government uses propaganda to paint a picture of the actual situation in the country.‘It’s a Pleasure to See You in Disarray,’ Tinubu Mocks PDP, LPPresident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken a swipe at opposition parties, declaring that it was a “pleasure” to witness the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) in disarray.The president made the remarks on Thursday during a joint sitting of the National Assembly to mark this year’s Democracy Day, where he also welcomed defectors from the opposition into the All Progressives Congress (APC).“You are all welcome to the progressive fold. Nobody should close the door,” Tinubu said in a jab at the internal divisions plaguing opposition parties. “It is indeed a pleasure to witness you in such a disarray.”The president mocked parties that appear shaken by recent defections and political realignments, saying that rather than panicking, they should introspect.“Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs, rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist,” he said.In a more sardonic tone, Tinubu added, “For me, I will not say, try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you to do so, either.”The comments came amid reports of growing cracks within both the PDP and LP, with several key members expressing dissatisfaction and exploring options with the ruling APC.Tinubu’s statement drew mixed reactions from lawmakers present at the session, with APC members applauding and opposition figures visibly displeased.President Tinubu has previously emphasised the importance of a strong opposition for democracy, but his latest comments suggest little sympathy for parties struggling to maintain internal unity.