The Presidency has strongly rejected accusations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is moving towards authoritarianism, describing such claims as baseless and the product of failed opposition elements.

The Presidency said allegations of bribery, blackmail, and the weaponisation of state institutions exist only “in the idle minds of politicians and their agents who have failed in their assigned role of opposition and are fishing for scapegoats.”

It stressed that President Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) cannot be held responsible for the internal disarray and incompetence of opposition parties.

“The opposition cannot blame President Tinubu and the governing APC for their poor organisation, indiscipline, and gross incompetence in managing their affairs. It is certainly not part of President Tinubu’s job to organise or strengthen opposition parties,” the statement read.

The Presidency also questioned the sincerity of critics who recently celebrated the defection of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, implying that political inconsistencies among the opposition further undermine their credibility.

The response comes amid growing claims by some political actors and critics suggesting that the Tinubu administration is using federal institutions to intimidate opponents and suppress dissent — accusations the Presidency has now categorically denied.