BY SOLOMON OKPO
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s overwhelming victory in the APC presidential primary has once again confirmed a political reality many observers have long understood, the ruling party remains firmly under the influence and direction of one dominant political structure.
The defeat of his sole challenger was not merely an electoral outcome; it was a demonstration of power consolidation, strategic control, and party supremacy ahead of the next electoral cycle.
What happened at the APC primary goes beyond ordinary party politics. It sends a strong message that President Tinubu has successfully tightened his grip on the party machinery despite economic pressures, public criticism, and internal grievances within the APC.
In Nigerian politics, incumbency has always been a powerful weapon, but Tinubu’s political mastery appears to have elevated that advantage into near-total dominance within his party.
Equally significant is the reported distancing of the APC and the Presidency from Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The political crisis in Rivers has gradually evolved into a test of loyalty, influence, and alignment with the center.
Fubara’s fallout with forces loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike exposed the fragile nature of political alliances in Nigeria, where loyalty often outweighs ideology.
For the APC leadership, supporting Fubara may have appeared politically inconvenient, especially considering the strategic importance of maintaining relationships with established power brokers ahead of future elections. Politics, particularly in Nigeria, is rarely driven by emotions or public sympathy; it is driven by interests, calculations, and survival. The unfolding Rivers crisis simply reinforces that reality.
However, while Tinubu’s victory may strengthen party unity on the surface, it also raises concerns about the shrinking space for internal democracy within major political parties.
When challengers become symbolic rather than competitive, primaries risk turning into ceremonial endorsements instead of genuine democratic contests. That trend is dangerous for any democracy seeking healthy debate and alternative viewpoints.
The APC’s current stability around Tinubu may deliver short-term political advantages, but the real challenge lies outside party conventions and victory declarations. Nigerians are more concerned about inflation, unemployment, insecurity, unstable electricity supply, and the rising cost of living. Political dominance means little if governance does not translate into measurable improvements in citizens’ daily lives.
As the political atmosphere gradually shifts toward the next general election, the opposition also faces a difficult task. The inability of opposition parties to build strong alternatives has indirectly strengthened Tinubu’s hold on national politics.
A fragmented opposition ultimately benefits the ruling party, regardless of public dissatisfaction.
The latest developments within the APC therefore reveal two critical truths about Nigeria’s political landscape: power remains heavily centralized around influential political figures, and party loyalty continues to outweigh ideological convictions. Whether this consolidation produces national stability or deeper democratic concerns will depend largely on how power is exercised in the months ahead.
