Political economist Pat Utomi said that political parties in Nigeria have lost their voice, stressing that the only strong opposition to the federal government is a few voices on social media.
Utomi made this statement at the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable themed “Nigeria and Opposition Politics” in Lagos.
He lamented that most opposition parties had lost their voices due to fear of persecution and internal crises.
“The only strong opposition we have today is a few active citizens on social media. Outside that, no political party is challenging this government,” Utomi said.
He faulted the silence of opposition parties on electoral reforms and constitutional violations.
On his part, the convener, Dr David Oladipo, said Nigeria was failing to get value for democracy because opposition parties had become too weak to provide viable alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
He argued that opposition parties had abandoned rigorous intellectual work, reducing their relevance in governance debates.
“Opposition is not just about shouting. It requires designing policies, proposing solutions and putting forward ideas that can compel the ruling party to act,” he said.
