By Mercy Adi
Senator representing Jigawa North-West in the 10th National Assembly, Babangida Hussain, has dismissed concerns that the wave of defections by politicians to the All Progressives Congress could push Nigeria toward a one-party state, insisting that the country’s diversity makes such a scenario impossible.
Hussain, who spoke during an interview with journalists at the National Assembly on Tuesday, said Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and cultural diversity would not allow the emergence of a single dominant political party capable of eliminating opposition.
He argued that the recent influx of politicians into the ruling party could be interpreted as an endorsement of the economic reforms being implemented by Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The APC is big enough to accommodate the numbers that are coming in. The structure and organs of the party are sufficiently equipped to aggregate the demands and needs of members,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, the country’s complex socio-political composition makes the idea of a one-party system unrealistic.
“Nigeria, with its diversity, religious, ethnic and cultural cannot practically operate a one-party state,” he added.
Assessing Tinubu’s administration after more than two years in office, Hussain said the government had made progress in stabilising the country’s macroeconomic environment despite the hardships faced by citizens.
He noted that inflation had begun to ease from earlier highs and said reforms in the foreign exchange market had helped stabilise the economy.
The senator acknowledged that Nigerians were facing economic challenges but described the hardship as temporary.
“In the words of Mr President, they are like the pains of childbirth. They are temporary and will pass with time,” he said.
He also expressed optimism that government social welfare programmes would help cushion the impact of economic reforms on households.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the amended Electoral Act 2022, Hussain defended the provisions on the transmission of election results, saying the law still accommodates electronic transmission.
According to him, the legislation only provides alternatives for areas where internet connectivity is poor.
“What the law has done is not to remove electronic transmission. It is embedded in Section 60(6) of the Act,” he said.
Hussain explained that in situations where internet access is unavailable, results would be documented and transmitted through legally recognised forms signed by electoral officials, party agents and security personnel before being forwarded to the next collation centre.
He said making real-time electronic transmission compulsory nationwide could disenfranchise communities without internet access.
The senator also warned that global conflicts affecting oil supply chains could worsen Nigeria’s economic challenges due to the country’s dependence on petroleum revenue.
He urged countries involved in ongoing international conflicts to seek diplomatic solutions through multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, noting that rising crude oil prices could trigger economic shocks for Nigeria.
“War in any form is not desirable because of the difficulties it brings, especially for vulnerable members of society,” he said
Hussain, who chairs the Senate Committee on North-West Development, expressed concern that the North West Development Commission had yet to commence major projects despite funds reportedly being released in 2025.
He said the region, with over 60 million people, faces numerous challenges including poverty, unemployment, insecurity and environmental degradation.
The lawmaker noted that a regional development summit held in Kaduna had produced recommendations expected to form the basis of a comprehensive development blueprint for the North-West.
“Our expectation was that once the Act establishing the commission was signed, structures would be put in place and work would commence,” he said.
Hussain, however, expressed hope that the commission would become fully operational in 2026 to address developmental gaps across the region.