Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chidi Odinkalu, has sharply criticised Nigeria’s opposition parties, describing them as ineffective and disorganised, amid the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme monitored on Channels Television on Monday, Odinkalu asserted that the country currently lacks a credible opposition capable of providing checks on the ruling party.
He pointed to the public holiday declared by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on the eve of the elections as a missed opportunity for opposition parties to mobilise supporters. According to Odinkalu, a decisive opposition would have staged a rally the following day to energise its base and challenge the move, but he alleged that opposition leaders remained inactive.
“I think the opposition forces, you know, the ADC, whoever else; I don’t even know which PDP there is now… the so-called opposition forces, in my view, are an utter disgrace. And I say that with no apologies to anybody,” Odinkalu said.
He added: “If you had political troops on the ground, call a rally on that Friday to dare him and use that to mobilise. What did they do? They were indoors, sleeping. It’s difficult to speak to the ineptitude of political opposition in Nigeria. They are not serious.”
Odinkalu further questioned the ruling party’s continued manipulation of electoral processes despite the apparent weakness of the opposition, highlighting ongoing issues such as violence, result alterations, and electoral irregularities.
“This is a moment for serious opposition leadership. At the moment, there is absolutely no opposition,” he concluded.
This sharp critique underscores growing concerns over the capacity of opposition parties to hold the government accountable in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
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