Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, has raised a strong alarm over the “shrinking political space in Nigeria”, warning that the nation risks sliding into a one-party system if urgent steps are not taken.

Also, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has expressed concern that the 10th National Assembly under Senator Godswill Akpabio has become a shadow of its former self due to weak leadership and outside influence.

Govenor Mohammed spoke through his House of Representatives constituency member, Mohammed Atiku Isah who is the convener Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed Colloquium at the Nigeria’s Democracy Day commemoration themed: ‘The Audacity of Progress: Rethinking Governance, Reclaiming Democracy’, organised by Young Democrats of Nigeria in Kaduna.

During his address before the National Assembly, on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu had denied pushing Nigeria towards one-party state.

But Governor Mohammed emphasised that the democratic space must be protected from domination by any single political interest, noting that the true essence of June 12 lies in the unity and diversity that defined the historic election.

He described the Democracy Day celebration marking the June 12, 1993 election annulment as a moment to remember Nigeria’s democratic sacrifices and confront present dangers.

The governor stated: “The opposition is under threat, and there’s a looming danger of a one-party system ahead of 2027. This trend undermines the very foundation of our democracy, which is built on the principles of inclusivity, the rich diversity of our nation, and competition.

“The removal of fuel subsidies has led to unprecedented hardship, while the exchange rate crisis and rising cost of living have made life unbearable for many Nigerians.”

According to him, these developments “show a lack of understanding of the struggles of the common man and woman.”

Mohammed urged the federal government to listen to the people and re-evaluate its approach.

“Democracy, as symbolised by June 12, must be about inclusion, economic justice, and shared prosperity not policies that widen the gap between government and governed,” he added.

Despite the national challenges, the governor pointed to what he called the “Audacity of Progress” in Bauchi, showcasing achievements under his administration.

“We’ve constructed over 1,000 kilometres of roads, renovated and built more than 300 schools, and boosted food production through smart agribusiness initiatives,” he said.

He also cited the employment of 10,000 graduates and the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP) as examples of inclusive governance.

Mohammed concluded by calling on Nigerians to stay vigilant and defend democratic values.

“Let us remember that the heroes of June 12… fought for the rights we enjoy today. Their sacrifice must not be in vain. We must continue to protect the democratic space and uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and popular participation.”

Meanwhile, Saraki who took a swipe at the Senate President said that the institution no longer represents the strong and active parliament it should be, and warned that if the parliament becomes too weak, the people may lose hope in it completely.

Saraki, 8th Senate President, who stated this in a statement he prepared for the commemoration of the 26 years of uninterrupted democracy in the country, blamed weak leadership and interference from other branches of government for the 10^th Assembly’s decline.

In his words; “Let me now say that except we are here to lie to ourselves, we must acknowledge the fact that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a shadow of what a virile and effective parliament should be.

“Today, we seem to be drifting backwards. And we don’t have to go far to find the reason for this sad development. Things are not moving forward as they should.”

Saraki stressed that the legislature is not the only one at fault, adding that all three arms of government share responsibility for the problem.

According to him; “I am convinced that this is not only the fault of the legislature and its leadership. The executive and judiciary have consistently played key roles in undermining and weakening the National Assembly.”

He therefore challenged current lawmakers to rethink their duties and work to strengthen the National Assembly, stressing that if the National Assembly is made helpless and hopeless to the extent that the people cannot find succour there, then they will be left with no option but to run to the streets.

Saraki said, “And this is dangerous for our democracy. The main job of the legislature is to provide checks and balances – not to blindly support the executive.

The former Kwara State governor’s remarks came amid growing complaints that the 10th Assembly has become too close to the presidency and no longer acts independently just as it reflected the growing concerns among Nigerians that the balance of power is shifting too far toward the executive, thereby raising questions about whether the legislature is still doing its job as a watchdog in a democracy.