Governor Hope Uzodimma has raised alarms about Nigeria's democracy facing peril if opposition parties don't strengthen their structures. He made the remarks on Saturday during the APC presidential primary.
Uzodimma warned that democracy cannot exist without credible opposition to challenge the ruling party. "It is no longer a democracy if there is no opposition," he told attendees.
The Imo governor urged opposition parties to match the APC's organizational efforts. "I encourage opposition parties to work hard, do what the ruling party has done," Uzodimma noted.
He said when opposition parties eventually win elections, they should govern with similar principles. "When, by the grace of God, it becomes their turn, they will elect their own president," he added.
Uzodimma boasted that the APC has built formidable grassroots networks ahead of 2027. He credited the party's digital membership registration and validation exercise for expanding its base nationwide.
According to him, individual wards now have massive membership figures. "You can see 35,000 human beings in just one ward in all its local governments," Uzodimma said.
He predicted President Tinubu's re-election victory if all party members vote as expected. "If all our party members vote for President Bola Tinubu, he has already won the election," the governor asserted.
Uzodimma attributed the large turnout at the primary to the party's inclusive digital approach. Electronic registration processes brought ordinary citizens into party structures like never before, he explained.
He praised how the membership drive affected Nigeria's overall democratic situation positively. "The membership registration as conducted by the All Progressives Congress took care of grassroots inclusiveness," Uzodimma noted.
Uzodimma also commended President Tinubu's leadership record and style of governance. He insisted Tinubu deserves another term based on his accomplishments so far.
"President Bola Tinubu has done enough to deserve going back for a second time," he said. "I want to congratulate him for taking the time to do politics the way it should be done."
