Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, has criticized opposition parties for what he described as a poor and disorganized outing during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Monday, Odinkalu said the opposition failed to demonstrate leadership at a crucial moment, insisting that Nigeria currently has no credible opposition.
He pointed to the public holiday declared on the eve of the election by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, arguing that opposition parties squandered an opportunity to galvanize supporters and assert themselves politically.
According to Odinkalu, a proactive opposition would have organized a rally the following day to challenge the decision and energize its base. Instead, he said, opposition leaders remained inactive.
Describing the situation as disappointing, Odinkalu said the so-called opposition forces, including the African Democratic Congress and factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, have failed to present a united or effective front.
He criticized what he termed their lack of seriousness and preparedness, stating that their inability to act decisively reflects poorly on the state of Nigeria’s democracy.
Odinkalu further questioned why the ruling party would allegedly resort to tactics such as violence or result manipulation, despite what he described as the absence of a formidable opposition capable of mounting a serious challenge.
