A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s recent statement that he’s “not stepping aside”, saying it vindicates those who believe Atiku is fueling a one-party state.

Okechukwu questioned Atiku’s absence from the Kano ceremony where Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso joined the Action on Democracy and Change (ADC), asking if this wasn’t a clear indication of Atiku’s opposition to opposition unity. He also pointed out that Atiku’s statement contradicts his claims that President Tinubu is promoting a one-party state.

“The loud, repeated allegations of APC constructing a one-party state are a smokescreen to cover the opposition’s anti-democratic tendency, disunity, and lack of strategic direction,” Okechukwu said.

He urged Atiku to support a consensus presidential ticket between Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for the 2027 election, rather than prioritizing personal ambition.

“The real danger to Nigeria’s democracy is not dominance by one party, but the reckless dysfunction of those who should provide balance,” Okechukwu concluded.