Nigerian opposition parties condemn reported rise in authoritarianism

Opposition parties in Nigeria, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied People’s Movement (APM), have reacted to a Human Rights Foundation report classifying the country as a "full authoritarian regime" under President Bola Tinubu.

The PDP stated that the report's assessment on the Tyranny Tracker platform confirms a domestic reality of democratic decline, citing faulty electoral processes, the erosion of democratic safeguards, and a lack of protection for dissent. The party accused the administration of weaponizing security agencies against opponents and failing to maintain institutional checks and balances. They urged the government to de-escalate political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Similarly, the APM alleged that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy has been captured by "executive authoritarianism." The party called on international partners, including the United Nations and the European Union, to implement diplomatic measures such as visa bans and asset freezes against officials accused of undermining democracy. The APM further alleged widespread state repression, claiming that security agencies have been used to suppress protests and silence journalists and opposition leaders.