The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Bola Tinubu, Aliyu Audu has resigned from his position, citing concerns over what he described as an attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Audu’s resignation letter, dated June 8, 2025, was submitted through the office of the president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The letter stated: “I write to formally tender my resignation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, effective immediately.”
In a statement accompanying his resignation, Audu explained that his decision was guided by personal conscience rather than political rebellion.
“Good morning fellow compatriots, I have seen many comments about my resignation and I must say it is not an act of rebellion but of conscience,” he said.
Audu stressed that he does not align with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but strongly rejects efforts to stifle political diversity.
“Though I do not align with the PDP, I refuse to be used directly or indirectly as an instrument to reduce Nigeria to a one-party state.
“That would be a betrayal of both divine favor and democratic principle,” he stated.
He warned that silencing opposition voices is politically reckless and spiritually dangerous, drawing parallels with past administrations.
“If we now begin to silence or crush opposition simply because we have the upper hand, then we are no different from the very system we once criticized under Obasanjo in 2003,” Audu remarked.
Audu urged for a Nigeria where political competition is based on ideas and integrity rather than domination.
“Let us build a Nigeria where our strength lies not in uniformity, but in the maturity to compete with ideas, vision, and integrity. Only then can we truly say we are progressing,” he said.
He added that genuine leadership must embrace freedom of choice and ideological diversity.
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“Suppressing alternative voices is not leadership; it is regression. It runs contrary to the divine order, which upholds freedom of choice and diversity of thought,” Audu asserted.
Despite his resignation, Audu expressed continued support for the administration’s economic reforms.
“I will continue to support our government in power not just because I helped bring it but also because I believe in the success recorded in the area of economic reforms,” he said.
However, he expressed disapproval of the current political alliances, specifically mentioning the partnership between President Tinubu and Nyesom Wike.
“We just differ on political views as I pride myself on being a progressive and a promoter of democratic values, which seems to be lost in the unholy alliance of PBAT with Wike,” Audu concluded.
Audu’s resignation comes at a time the Tinubu administration is facing increasing scrutiny over its handling of opposition politics and internal party dynamics.
Political observers will be watching closely to see if this resignation signals deeper fissures within the APC.
