“The Game plan is to decimate the opposition”- Prince Francis Chilaka

Public affairs analyst Prince Francis Chilaka on Tuesday, has raised alarm over what he described as a deliberate strategy to weaken opposition parties and shrink Nigeria’s democratic space.

He made the remarks while speaking on VOP This Morning’s program on Voice of the People TV, alleging that there are coordinated efforts to frustrate the African Democratic Congress through venue cancellations and administrative obstacles.

“It’s about a power tussle; it’s about ensuring that viable opposition parties do not see the light of day…The free space keeps shrinking every other day… For you to be in opposition, you must be ready to dare the government in power,” he said.

The remarks come amid mounting controversy over venue denials faced by the ADC. The party was reportedly barred from using both Eagle Square and the MKO Abiola Stadium, before allegedly coming under pressure from the FCT Ministry to cancel a backup booking at the Rainbow Event Center. This follows an earlier withdrawal by the Transcorp Hilton, leaving the party’s leadership in a last-minute scramble less than 12 hours before the scheduled event.

Institutional Interference

Mr Chilaka questioned the role of government institutions in the ADC’s convention venue crisis, pointing to the cancellation of bookings at major venues as evidence of possible interference.

He argued that crises within opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party, reflect a broader attempt to weaken alternative political platforms.

Mr Chilaka further alleged that the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, is compromised, warning that perceived partisanship undermines electoral credibility.

Democratic pressure

‎Another analyst, Elvis Elimihele, linked the political tension to economic hardship, arguing that citizens are increasingly unable to hold leaders accountable.

‎“The people can no longer breathe… you are running after how to pay house rent,” he said, suggesting that economic struggles have reduced civic engagement and weakened resistance to political overreach.

‎He pointed to policies such as fuel subsidy removal as contributing to public disengagement, arguing that economic pressure has reduced citizens’ capacity to demand accountability.

‎He added that divisions along ethnic and religious lines have further limited collective action against shrinking democratic space.

‎Internal accountability

Offering a contrasting view, Mr. Frank Ehiosun blamed the ADC for failing to manage its internal processes effectively.

‎“The first body to take blame is ADC itself… Politicians should play by the rules,” he said, noting that delays in addressing legal challenges allowed the crisis to escalate.

Mr Ehiosun argued that the party failed to act swiftly on legal protections available to it, allowing disputes to escalate.

‎He also pointed to growing public suspicion surrounding the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, warning that perceived bias could erode trust in the electoral system.

‎‎Call for maturity

‎Meanwhile, Dennis Ekemezie described the crisis as part of the natural evolution of democratic politics, urging the ADC to build resilience.

‎“In the terrain of politics, you must be careful of the banana peels on the floor,” he said, adding that all political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress, have faced internal challenges.

‎He emphasised that electoral bodies must remain “above suspicion” to maintain public confidence.

The crisis within the African Democratic Congress, alongside scrutiny of the Independent National Electoral Commission, underscores broader questions about the strength of Nigeria’s multi-party system ahead of future elections.