Nigeria, April 28 -- Nigeria's presidency, on Sunday, dismissed concerns that the country is drifting towards a one-party state and authoritarianism.

A group of 18 Nigerian activists and academics released a statement on Sunday, urging citizens to defend democracy and resist attempts towards creeping the country into "authoritarianism."

The group, whose members refer to themselves as democrats, said, there is a "calculated and systematic" effort by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to dismantle the "democratic foundations of our republic and reduce Nigeria to a one-party state."

The group also alleged that political pluralism is being eroded under this administration through bribery, blackmail, and coercion.

In a swift react...