Aliyu Audu, Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant, Resigns Over ‘One-Party State’ Concerns
A senior aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Aliyu Audu, has resigned from his position as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, citing growing discomfort with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s political direction, warning against a drift toward one-party dominance in Nigeria.
Audu’s resignation letter, dated June 8, was submitted through the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. Though the Presidency is yet to issue an official statement, sources within the Villa confirmed the resignation took immediate effect.
Audu, who was appointed in August 2023 and confirmed in October of the same year, expressed deep concern over what he described as the erosion of democratic values under the Tinubu administration.
He specifically criticized what he called the use of power to suppress opposition voices and promote mass defections to the ruling party.
“This is not an act of rebellion, but one of conscience,” Audu stated in his letter. “My conscience will not allow me to be used as an instrument to undermine the very democratic ideals we claim to uphold.”
The resignation, which caught many within the administration off guard, is already generating tension within Aso Rock.
According to insider accounts, Audu had grown increasingly uncomfortable with recent political realignments and the perceived push to weaken Nigeria’s multiparty framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Audu also voiced strong objections to what he described as an “unholy alliance” between the APC and former opposition figures, including Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who has come under criticism for his growing influence in Tinubu’s cabinet.
Despite his resignation, Audu maintained his support for some of the administration’s economic policies but emphasized that reform must not come at the cost of political freedom and democratic accountability.
“We cannot trade democratic health for political consolidation. The two must walk hand in hand,” he said.
While there is no official word yet on his replacement, political analysts say Audu’s departure could signal internal cracks within the ruling party, particularly among aides and technocrats uneasy with recent developments.
His resignation is the first public break from Tinubu’s senior team since the administration took office in May 2023, and it comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of the APC’s dominance and the future of Nigeria’s democratic balance.
“May we never forget that our first allegiance is not to party or power, but to the people we serve, and the Constitution that binds us,” Audu concluded.
