Restricting civic space and battering democracy, By Jibrin Ibrahim

Catholic leaders have voiced strong concerns about the direction of President Tinubu's administration, with one cardinal alleging a determination to win the 2027 elections "by all means." The administration, however, has pushed back against public criticism, labeling comments made by Archbishop Emeritus John Cardinal Onaiyekan as an "abuse of privilege."

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the President Tinubu’s administration is determined to win the 2027 elections “by all means”.

Onaiyekan had stated in a television interview that the Tinubu administration is focused on securing the 2027 elections, while ordinary Nigerians suffer from harmful policies. The government, through Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Temitope Ajayi, questioned the appropriateness of the cardinal's public account of a private meeting.

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there was something fundamentally inappropriate about Cardinal John Onaiyekan granting a television interview to offer his own account and interpretation of what transpired during the private meeting between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and President Bola Tinubu.

Critics argue that the government's response stifles dissent, as visitors to the president should be free to express disagreements. They contend that the administration is mobilizing executive, legislative, and judicial powers to deregister opposition parties and disrupt politicians. The electoral body, INEC, is accused of partisan behavior, and the media faces threats. Civil society groups also expressed alarm over restrictive bills in the National Assembly that could expand executive control and curtail freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.

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It is clear to all that as the 2027 elections approach, an arsenal of executive, legislative and judicial powers have been mobilised using the abuse of the powers of incumbency to deregister and disrupt opposition parties and politicians.