Former Deputy Campaign Manager of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign, Isaac Balami, has said his decision to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was influenced by his belief that President Bola Tinubu has addressed the issues that led him to leave the ruling party ahead of the 2023 general election.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Balami said he had opposed Tinubu’s presidential ambition in 2022 over concerns about the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket and what he considered the exclusion of minority ethnic groups from national politics.

According to him, his assessment of the Tinubu administration has changed since the President assumed office, prompting him to reconsider his earlier position and rejoin the APC.

Balami said he also lost confidence in the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement after concluding that the party lacked the organisational strength and internal structure required to achieve its political objectives.

He argued that the party’s inability to effectively protect its votes during the 2023 presidential election exposed serious weaknesses in its political machinery.

According to him, the Labour Party struggled to recruit and fund polling agents nationwide, making it difficult to defend its electoral gains during post-election litigation.

Rejecting claims that his return to the APC amounted to a betrayal of the Obidient Movement, Balami maintained that he freely chose to leave the ruling party in 2022 and had the same right to return after reviewing the performance of the current administration.

He credited Tinubu’s government with implementing policies that, in his view, have expanded opportunities for minority groups and advanced governance reforms across the country.

Among the initiatives he highlighted were the removal of fuel subsidy, local government autonomy, the recruitment of forest guards, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), youth-focused appointments and other policy reforms, which he said were laying the foundation for long-term national development.

Balami further described Tinubu as one of the most inclusive presidents since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, particularly in terms of accommodating minority ethnic groups in governance.

While acknowledging that many Nigerians are experiencing economic hardship, he argued that the ongoing reforms require time to produce meaningful results and should be assessed based on their long-term impact rather than immediate challenges.

He also dismissed suggestions that his renewed support for the APC was driven by personal gain, insisting that he has neither received a political appointment nor benefited from any government contract since rejoining the party.

Balami urged Nigerians, especially young people, to evaluate the Tinubu administration based on its policies, reforms and achievements rather than political loyalty, expressing confidence that the government’s programmes would leave a stronger foundation for future generations.