The All Progressives Congress has dismissed concerns that the increasing number of defectors joining the ruling party could compromise Nigeria’s democratic system.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, made this statement during an interview on Arise News on Saturday night.
Morka explained that the movement of politicians from opposition parties to the APC was a legitimate exercise of their constitutional rights and should not be viewed as a sign of democratic regression.
He emphasised that the decisions of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and African Democratic Congress to join the APC align with democratic values.
He said, “I have no concern whatsoever about that because nothing that has happened in our country — with people leaving their parties to join the APC — suggests that our country is sliding into a one-party system.
“People are simply exercising their democratic freedom to choose among competing party alternatives, and they are choosing our party.”
Addressing claims that the wave of defections poses a threat to democracy, Morka described such assertions as misleading and unjust.
“It would be disingenuous to describe the development as a threat to democracy.
“Would you have the APC become a gatekeeper and decide who can or cannot come in? Democracy is a system of freedoms, and it is not fair or permissible for anyone to limit the right of people to choose for themselves. The fact that people join the APC does not mean we have a one-party system,” he stated.
Reacting to allegations that the APC was leveraging federal power to compel governors and lawmakers to defect, Morka dismissed the accusations as baseless.
“In a country as massive as Nigeria, how do you cajole governors who are chief executive officers of their states?” he asked. “These are people elected by their constituents to govern. They control their own budgets and have the power to appropriate funds. What exactly would you tell a governor to cajole him?”
Morka advised opposition parties to focus on addressing their internal challenges instead of blaming the ruling party.
“If the PDP, Labour, or ADC look inward, they will find that it is their dysfunction and failure of leadership driving people away.
“Nobody wants to remain on a sinking ship. No serious politician would stay in a party that offers no hope of redemption.”
He added that the APC has emerged as a beacon of hope for both politicians and citizens, strengthened by President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and economic reforms.
“The APC is a party of method and hope under the leadership of the President, who is enacting hope for everyone.
“Our macroeconomic indicators are improving — inflation is now around 18% — and it will continue to go down, translating to more food on the table for Nigerians,” he said.
