Akande Atiku Tinubu one-party state row escalates as Laolu Akande criticises Atiku’s allegations against President Bola Tinubu
Former media aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande has launched a sharp critique of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent allegations that President Bola Tinubu is attempting to impose a one-party state in Nigeria.
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Akande dismissed Atiku’s claims, arguing that both Atiku and President Tinubu operate within the same political mindset that prioritises power over public service, describing their differences as largely tactical rather than ideological.
The comments come amid growing political debate over Nigeria’s democratic direction and heightened exchanges between key opposition and ruling party figures.
According to Akande, the Akande Atiku Tinubu one-party state row reflects deeper contradictions within Nigeria’s political elite, whom he accused of consistently placing personal ambition above national interest.
He also accused Atiku of undermining internal party consensus within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he opposed the party’s rotational presidency arrangement, a move Akande said contributed to long-standing internal divisions.
“Let me give you a picture of where our political elites are today… we have the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who destroyed the PDP by assaulting the national consensus on rotational presidency. He is now accusing President Bola Tinubu and his party of orchestrating a one-party state in Nigeria,” Akande said.
He further questioned the integrity of Nigeria’s political institutions, suggesting that concerns over neutrality within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) add to public distrust in the system.
Akande argued that despite differing political affiliations, both Atiku and Tinubu represent a class of leaders who view political power primarily as a tool for advantage rather than national transformation.
“They are not significantly different… they just see power as something that is more to their advantage rather than something that is meant to transform the lives of the people,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to rise above partisan narratives and focus on broader national interests, stressing the need for citizens to prioritise systemic reform over political rivalries.
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Akande concluded that Nigeria’s future depends on moving beyond elite political disputes, calling for sustained attention to governance challenges that affect ordinary citizens.
