APC Is Suffering from an Entitlement Mentality, Dele Momodu Warns as He Raises One-Man Rule Concerns

Media entrepreneur, political commentator, and former presidential aspirant, Chief Dele Momodu, has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing the party of operating with what he described as an “entitlement mentality” that seeks to dominate Nigeria’s political space at all levels. In an interview conducted by journalist Sam Nwaoko, Momodu warned that the country may be edging toward excessive power concentration, a development he believes poses risks to democratic pluralism.

Momodu’s comments were prompted by public debate surrounding an interaction involving Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke. While some observers characterised the encounter as light-hearted banter between former Senate colleagues, Momodu dismissed that interpretation, suggesting instead that deeper political tensions were at play.

According to Momodu, the ruling party’s discomfort stems from Governor Adeleke’s continued refusal to defect to the APC despite sustained pressure. He argued that the APC increasingly views political dominance as a natural entitlement, believing that all elected officials, particularly governors, should align with the ruling party regardless of ideological differences or electoral mandates.

“I know the reason for the anger,” Momodu said during the interview. “It is not about personal relationships. It is about politics. The APC has developed an entitlement syndrome. The party believes that every governor in Nigeria, whether from the North, South, East, or West, must belong to the APC.”

He warned that such a mindset, if left unchecked, could erode democratic competition and weaken institutional checks and balances. According to Momodu, political pluralism thrives when opposition voices are respected and allowed to operate freely without intimidation or coercion.

The Ovation publisher further argued that the ultimate objective of this political consolidation is the creation of a system where power revolves around a single dominant figure. While he stopped short of directly accusing President Bola Tinubu of authoritarian intent, Momodu suggested that the political structure emerging under the APC increasingly resembles a “one-man rule” model, where loyalty to a central authority becomes the primary qualification for political relevance.

“They want every state captured, just as Lagos was captured politically,” he said. “Their comfort lies in total control. Anyone who does not join them is immediately branded an enemy.”

Momodu emphasised that Nigeria’s democracy was designed to accommodate ideological diversity and regional interests, not uniform political allegiance. He warned that forcing alignment through political pressure could deepen divisions and create resentment among voters who feel their choices are being undermined.

The veteran journalist also criticised what he described as the blurring of party lines between governance and personal loyalty, arguing that democratic leadership should be based on persuasion and performance rather than coercion or political muscle. In his view, the increasing wave of defections to the ruling party reflects not ideological convergence but survival politics driven by fear of exclusion.

Reacting to speculation that the APC’s growing dominance is inevitable, Momodu maintained that history shows political monopolies often collapse under their own weight. He recalled past eras when ruling parties appeared invincible, only to be displaced by public dissatisfaction and internal contradictions.

While Momodu’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions across political and social platforms, they have also reignited broader conversations about the future of Nigeria’s democracy. Supporters of his position argue that a healthy political system requires strong opposition parties to ensure accountability, while critics contend that the APC’s expansion merely reflects electoral success and popular support.

Momodu acknowledged that entitlement mentality is not unique to the APC, noting that previous ruling parties had also exhibited similar tendencies while in power. However, he insisted that the scale and intensity of current political consolidation are unprecedented in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, his warnings serve as a reminder of the delicate balance between political strength and democratic restraint. Whether the country is truly approaching a one-man rule or merely experiencing the natural dominance of a ruling party remains open to debate. What is clear, however, is that concerns over power concentration and political entitlement are increasingly shaping Nigeria’s national conversation.