Former senator and media mogul, Ben Murray-Bruce, has shrugged off fears that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party state following the mass defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, shortly after announcing his own defection to the APC, the “Common Sense” advocate insisted that the collapse of the PDP would not spell the end of opposition politics in Nigeria.
Murray-Bruce’s comments come on the heels of high-profile exits from the PDP, including Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, both of whom recently dumped the party for the ruling APC.
“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,” he said.
The former lawmaker noted that Nigeria’s democracy is dynamic and will always make room for new political challengers.
“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,” he added.
He dismissed the notion that the PDP’s dwindling fortunes equate to the death of Nigeria’s democratic process.
“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 maintained.
The former senator also spotlighted key political figures he believes still hold the torch for opposition politics in Nigeria.
“Peter Obi is not dead. Kwankwaso is not dead. Atiku is not dead, so there will be opposition,” he stated confidently.
For Murray-Bruce, Nigeria’s democracy may be evolving, but it is far from fading — and new forces will always rise to challenge the status quo.
