The Presidency has dismissed claims that
recent defections of Nigeria opposition politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) acted under any form of duress – amid fears that Nigeria may be drifting towards one party State.
This followed the defection of former governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa who was the running mate to the Presidential flag bearer of Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections.
He defection from PDP to into the All Progressives Congress alongside his successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori alongside members of the State Executive Council members and all elected Local Government officials in Delta State in addition to some political actors from the opposition parties in Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Osun State and others.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Sunday that the politicians defected voluntary to APC and accordingly denied as has been concerns that they were coerced into its fold.
He also stated that democracy is strong, and the multiparty democratic system will continue to flourish unhindered under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He stated that the administration remains resolutely committed to upholding and strengthening the democratic foundations upon which our Fourth Republic has stood since 1999
According to him, “Politicians changing party affiliation is not new or peculiar to Nigeria. In more advanced democracies, there are ready examples of notable politicians, statesmen and women who changed their parties.
“President Tinubu and the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, deserve commendation for making the ruling party viable and attractive to all Nigerians willing to participate in the democratic process.
“We must add that no policy, official action, or directive from the Presidency seeks to “dismantle democracy” or “weaken opposition or create a one-party state.” Accusations of bribery, blackmail, and the weaponisation of state institutions only exist in the idle minds of politicians and their agents who have failed in their assigned role of opposition and are fishing for scapegoats.
“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.
“We find it curious that those who celebrated the defection of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the formation of a regional grand coalition with the sole aim of defeating President Tinubu in the 2027 election are the same people shedding crocodile tears over Nigeria’s so-called drift to a one-party state and authoritarianism.
“While the latter-day defenders of democracy raised no anxious voice against the disgruntled politicians cobbling an anti-Tinubu, anti-APC coalition along dangerous regional lines, even before INEC blows the whistle for party politicking, they are quick to ascribe the political shifts in some states to “bribery, blackmail, and coercion” without any shred of evidence.
“Without any equivocation, freedom of association, freedom of speech and freedom of choice are part of the cherished ideals of democracy. When politicians and citizens cannot freely join any association or political party of their choice or cannot openly express their views, democracy is imperilled. Those opposed to the Tinubu administration should understand that they can issue diatribes, without fear, against the government because we practice a thriving democracy.
“It is hypocrisy writ large when opposition politicians and their collaborators in the ‘human rights’ movement desire that the party of the President should implode so they can gain electoral advantage and cry wolf when their wish does not materialise”, according to Tinubu’s spokesman.
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