Tinubu Denies Role In Wave Of Defections To APC

The Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is behind the growing number of defections by opposition governors and lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress.

A senior government official said those joining the APC were doing so voluntarily, drawn by what he described as Tinubu’s fair leadership style rather than any direct political pressure or inducement from the president.

The official, who spoke while defending the government’s performance in tackling insecurity, said the defections were a reflection of confidence in the administration’s direction. He noted that many state governments now receive higher monthly allocations due to subsidy removal, yet have not done enough to support federal efforts to address insecurity. According to him, no state currently borrows to fund projects, and most receive over N20 billion monthly, suggesting that state leaders have ample resources to deliver good governance.

Since 2023, the opposition has suffered a series of defections, with the Peoples Democratic Party losing six governors and dozens of lawmakers to the ruling APC. In the National Assembly alone, about 70 lawmakers have crossed over — 16 from the Senate and 56 from the House of Representatives. Several state assemblies have also followed their governors into the APC, further shrinking the opposition’s presence nationwide.

Opposition parties, however, see the trend differently. Leaders in the House of Representatives’ Minority Caucus have accused the APC of using political influence and state institutions to weaken dissent and consolidate power.

Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda described the defections as a clear violation of the Constitution, saying lawmakers cannot legally retain their seats unless there is a division within their former parties. He vowed that the opposition would take legal and parliamentary action to challenge the defectors and defend Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

Other opposition lawmakers, including Victor Ogene of the Labour Party and Dennis Agbo from Enugu, condemned what they called “political manipulation” and “betrayal of voter trust.” They argued that many defectors had campaigned on promises of change in 2023 but had now abandoned those ideals for political gain.

Hon. Obi Aguocha of the All Progressives Grand Alliance warned that Nigeria risked returning to an era of one-party dominance that would erode accountability and good governance.

Despite the growing backlash, APC insiders insist that the party’s expanding influence reflects a shift in national confidence rather than coercion. But as more opposition members switch sides, political analysts warn that the balance of power in Nigeria’s democracy may be at stake.