Opposition Silenced! Pat Utomi Reveals Only Social Media Critics Still Standing

Political economist and activist, Pat Utomi, has lamented the growing irrelevance of political parties in Nigeria’s democratic space, warning that only a handful of citizens on social media now serve as the real opposition to the Federal Government.

Utomi made the remarks at the David Oladipo Leadership Roundtable, themed “Nigeria and Opposition Politics”, held in Lagos.

Represented by Chidi Okpaluba, President of the Centre for Africa Renaissance, Reformation and Development, Utomi criticized opposition parties for losing their voices due to internal crises and fear of persecution.

“The only strong opposition we have today is a few active citizens on social media. Outside that, no political party is challenging this government,” he said.

He further faulted opposition silence on key issues such as electoral reforms and constitutional breaches, stressing that without credible reforms, no opposition party can win elections in Nigeria.

In his contribution, the convener of the event, David Oladipo, argued that Nigeria is failing to maximize the benefits of democracy because opposition parties have become too weak to offer viable alternatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He added that opposition politics should go beyond mere criticism, emphasizing the need for policy proposals and solutions that can pressure the government into action.