If anybody tells Tinubu he has won before votes are cast, that person is deceiving him—Segun Sowunmi

On Sunday, December 21, 2025, prominent political figures Ijeoma Arodiogbu and Segun Sowunmi criticised the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria for its assertion that the nation is transitioning into a one-party system, according to reports from Punch News.

The legal body had previously voiced concerns on Monday, suggesting that Nigeria’s federalism is being compromised by the overwhelming influence of a single party. BOSAN argued that in the absence of a robust opposition, the judiciary must serve as the primary safeguard for democracy. These remarks coincide with a political landscape where the ruling All Progressives Congress maintains control over 26 of the 36 states.

Meanwhile, opposition groups have frequently pointed to the wave of defections including those by sitting governors as evidence of a diminishing multi-party environment.

However, during separate discussions with PUNCH Online on Saturday, both Arodiogbu and Sowunmi expressed disbelief at the lawyers’ stance, considering their intellectual standing.

Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, remarked that he found the comments startling coming from such a distinguished and educated group. He argued that the legal profession should have a more pragmatic understanding of political competition. He questioned whether critics expected the APC to intentionally lose or negotiate away its victories to accommodate other parties.

Arodiogbu maintained that the influx of new members into the APC is a result of genuine support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He pointed out the irony of the current outcry, noting that similar concerns were not raised during the early Fourth Republic when the Peoples Democratic Party enjoyed similar dominance and high defection rates. He emphasised that the party intends to win through its popular brand and will not apologise for its electoral success.

Similarly, Segun Sowunmi, a former aide to Atiku Abubakar and a PDP chieftain, suggested that the Senior Advocates should prioritise addressing internal issues within the legal system instead of framing political trends as a national emergency. He dismissed the idea of a coordinated plan to establish a one-party state, asserting that President Tinubu has no such intentions.

Sowunmi argued that political parties must be accountable for their own failures and internal mismanagement rather than blaming the ruling government for their weaknesses. He questioned why the President should be held responsible for the opposition’s inability to manage power-sharing or the high costs of their electoral processes. He insisted that Nigeria remain a multi-party democracy where any leader’s success depends on their vision and programmes.

He concluded by noting that election results are never a certainty and that even with a clear strategy, failure remains a possibility. He said, “If anybody is telling President Tinubu that an election in which the votes have not been cast has been won, the person is deceiving him.

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