Former senator and media mogul, Ben Murray-Bruce, has said that the series of defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) does not signify the end of opposition politics in Nigeria, stressing that the country’s democratic system will continue to give rise to new challengers.
Murray-Bruce made this statement on Thursday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, shortly after announcing his defection to the APC.
His comments followed the recent defection of PDP governors, including Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who both crossed over to the ruling party earlier in the week.
According to the former lawmaker, the weakening of the PDP should not be mistaken for the death of democracy or the collapse of opposition politics in the country.
“Things get destroyed for others to show up. There will be other parties. It may not be called PDP, but there will be opposition. So, if PDP dies, it dies. Somebody is going to show up. Somebody will show up, for sure,” he stated.
He maintained that Nigeria’s political environment ensures that alternative political forces will always arise to challenge the ruling government.
“There will be opposition, there will be election. There are people who will challenge the president, and it’s going to be a tough election. It’s going to be very tough,” he said.
Murray-Bruce dismissed speculations that the defection of top PDP figures to the APC could create a one-party state. He argued that while the PDP might be “half dead,” Nigeria’s democracy remains alive.
“Don’t think because PDP is half dead means the democratic process is dead. It feels that way, people think that way, but somebody will emerge, a leader will show up, and there will be tough opposition,” he explained.
Pointing out notable figures who could still shape Nigeria’s political direction, the former senator said, “Peter Obi is not dead. Kwankwaso is not dead. Atiku is not dead, so there will be opposition.”
