Paul Ibe Accuses President Bola Tinubu of Running a Dictatorship: Nigeria’s Democracy Under Threat?

In a scathing critique that has ignited fresh debates on Nigeria’s political landscape, Paul Ibe, the media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of steering the country toward outright dictatorship. Speaking on September 24, 2025, during an interview on The African Settings Exchange Show, Ibe lamented that Nigeria’s fallen pro-democracy icons—such as MKO Abiola, Major General Shehu Yar’Adua, and countless activists who perished in the fight against military rule—would be “horrified” by the current state of affairs. This bold statement comes amid escalating tensions over alleged government crackdowns on opposition voices, raising alarms about the erosion of democratic norms ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Core of Ibe’s Accusation: A Slide into Repression

Ibe’s remarks paint a grim picture of Tinubu’s administration, which he described as “majoring in minors” by prioritizing political maneuvering over governance. He alleged that the president has “abandoned governance for politics,” using state institutions to harass and intimidate dissenters in a bid to consolidate power. “What is playing out is a dictatorship,” Ibe asserted, pointing to the systematic targeting of figures like activist Omoyele Sowore as evidence of a repressive regime. He claimed this strategy is designed to narrow Nigeria’s democratic space, paving the way for a one-party state by 2027.

This isn’t Ibe’s first salvo. As early as September 5, 2025, he took to X (formerly Twitter) to declare Nigeria under “full-blown dictatorship,” accusing the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) of weaponizing the police, anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC, and the judiciary against opponents. In that post, tagged to opposition leaders like Atiku, Peter Obi, and Nasir El-Rufai, Ibe warned that these institutions had become mere “organs” of the ruling party.

The accusations extend to specific plots against opposition parties. In November 2024, Ibe claimed Tinubu was “plotting to destroy” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to enforce a dictatorship. He singled out Nyesom Wike, now a key APC ally and FCT Minister, as a tool in this scheme, echoing earlier concerns from August 2025 about the arrest of former Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal by the EFCC as part of a broader intimidation tactic.

Tributes to Fallen Heroes: A Stark Contrast

At the heart of Ibe’s emotional appeal is a poignant nod to Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle. He invoked the sacrifices of icons like MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election who died in custody, and Shehu Yar’Adua, a military figure turned democracy advocate who perished under suspicious circumstances in 1999. These figures, along with “many activists who lost their lives,” fought to end the military dictatorship that gripped Nigeria from 1983 to 1999. Ibe argued that their hard-won gains—free elections, press freedom, and rule of law—are now being “eroded” under Tinubu, a former NADECO exile himself who once battled the Abacha regime.

Ironically, Tinubu’s Wikipedia profile highlights his own progressive roots and anti-dictatorship activism during the Abacha era, where he fled into exile and returned to help birth the Fourth Republic. Ibe’s critique flips this narrative, suggesting Tinubu has “blown full circle into a civilian dictatorship, worse than even a military dictatorship.”

Broader Context: 2027 Looming Large

Ibe’s latest outburst ties into ongoing fears of electoral manipulation. He accused Tinubu of deploying “all manner of gimmicks” to decimate opposition coalitions, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which unites Atiku and Obi against the APC. This follows Tinubu’s recent Paris vacation, which Ibe mocked as insensitive amid Nigeria’s economic woes—skyrocketing inflation, fuel scarcity, and naira devaluation.

On X, the sentiment has echoed widely. Posts from accounts like @Naija_PR and @OwelekeTV amplified Ibe’s November claims, garnering hundreds of likes and shares, with users decrying the “enforce[ment of] dictatorship” for 2027. While no direct post from Ibe’s account (@PaulIbe1) matched the exact September 24 phrasing in recent searches, his history of vocal X activity suggests the interview quotes could spawn similar online buzz.

Reactions and Implications

The APC has yet to respond directly to Ibe’s September remarks, but past rebuttals have dismissed such claims as “noise” from sore losers. Opposition figures, however, have rallied: Atiku’s camp vows not to “give in to their antics,” while the ADC coalition positions itself as a bulwark against authoritarianism.

Critics like Ibe argue that with Nigerians “suffering,” the focus should be on relief, not suppression—echoing calls for Tinubu to prioritize “a country first” before 2027 ambitions. As the date aligns with today, September 24, 2025, this could signal the start of a heated pre-election season.

This controversy underscores Nigeria’s fragile democracy: Will Tinubu’s administration address these allegations, or will they fuel further polarization? As Ibe put it, the ghosts of pro-democracy heroes demand better. Stay tuned for developments—Nigeria’s political arena is anything but dull.