Defections: Tinubu Not Forcing Politicians to Join APC, Vouches NNPP Chieftain
The founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is coercing politicians from opposition parties to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in Lagos on Friday, Aniebonam said recent defections by governors, lawmakers, and political leaders into the ruling APC were driven by personal decisions rather than any form of pressure or manipulation from the presidency.
According to him, political realignment is a common feature of Nigeria’s democracy, especially as politicians often seek platforms that align with their personal ambitions or political philosophies.
“Defection is a normal aspect of our political evolution,” Aniebonam said. “We are yet to see any politician who has joined the APC or any other party at gunpoint. Those who are leaving their parties are doing so out of free will, based on personal conviction and interest.”
The NNPP chieftain urged Nigerians not to interpret the defections as evidence of intimidation or collapse of opposition politics but rather as part of the dynamic nature of the country’s democratic process.
He added that while the ruling APC continues to attract new members, it remains the responsibility of opposition parties to strengthen internal democracy, build public trust, and offer credible alternatives to Nigerians.
“The freedom to associate is guaranteed by the constitution,” he said. “What we should be more concerned about is whether these politicians are truly committed to serving the people, not just moving from one party to another for personal gain.”
- Aniebonam’s remarks come amid a wave of high-profile defections from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), to the APC a trend that has stirred debate about the balance of political power ahead of the next election cycle.
