Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has expressed disappointment over the low voter turnout observed during Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State.
Meanwhile, Speaking shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 014, Elizabeth Fowler Memorial High School in Surulere, Gbajabiamila acknowledged the peaceful conduct of the elections but emphasized the need for greater voter participation at the grassroots level.
While noting that the process was largely peaceful and free of disruptions, he lamented the general apathy among citizens, urging intensified public sensitisation about the importance of local government elections. He stressed that grassroots governance is foundational to national development and deserves more attention from the electorate.
Gbajabiamila also weighed in on the recent opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is being positioned as a potential platform to challenge the dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027. He welcomed the development, describing it as healthy for democracy and a necessary balance to prevent the emergence of a one-party system in Nigeria.
He acknowledged that while it remains uncertain how far the coalition would go, its formation reflects democratic maturity and reinforces pluralism, which is essential in any democratic setting.
The conversation around a potential one-party system had previously stirred national debate when former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje suggested that such a political outcome, if voluntary, shouldn’t raise alarm. Ganduje argued that mass defection to the ruling party would only reflect public endorsement of good governance, comparing Nigeria’s trajectory to China’s one-party model.
President Tinubu, however, has dismissed any insinuation that his administration is pursuing a one-party state. In his Democracy Day address to the National Assembly, Tinubu reassured Nigerians of his commitment to political pluralism, stating clearly that opposition parties remain vital to Nigeria’s democratic health, and that the APC remains open but not coercive to new entrants.