Former senator and media entrepreneur, Ben Murray-Bruce, has dismissed fears that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party state following the recent wave of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Thursday, a day after announcing his defection to the APC, Murray-Bruce argued that political parties may collapse, but Nigeria’s democratic space would continue to produce challengers.
He said, “Things get destroyed for others to show up. There will be other parties. It may not be called PDP, but there will be opposition. So, if PDP dies, it dies. Somebody is going to show up. Somebody will show up, for sure.”
The former Bayelsa East senator maintained that the country’s political space is dynamic enough to ensure that alternative forces will keep emerging to challenge the ruling party.
Murray-Bruce further stated, “There will be opposition, there will be election. There are people who will challenge the president, and it’s going to be a tough election. It’s going to be very tough.”
Bellnews reports that Murray-Bruce’s statement came in the wake of the defections of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and several PDP lawmakers, which have reignited debate over the viability of the opposition.
The Silver Group founder dismissed the idea that the PDP’s apparent decline equates to the death of democracy in Nigeria.
He stated, “Don’t think because PDP is half dead means the democratic process is dead. It feels that way, people think that way, but somebody will emerge, a leader will show up, and there will be tough opposition.”
Murray-Bruce also pointed to prominent opposition leaders who remain active and capable of mounting a credible challenge in 2027.
“Peter Obi is not dead. Kwankwaso is not dead. Atiku is not dead, so there will be opposition,” he affirmed.