President Bola Tinubu on Sunday told opposition leaders to accept responsibility for their party’s internal failures instead of blaming his administration for recent defections.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasized that politicians switching party affiliations is a normal part of democracy globally, not something unique to Nigeria. He said accusations that his administration is steering Nigeria toward authoritarianism are “baseless and exaggerated.”
The statement, titled “Democracy Strong and Alive in Nigeria, Ignore Alarmists”, dismissed the criticisms surrounding the defections of opposition figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Tinubu highlighted that while the defection of APC members like former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was celebrated, the reverse situation has been condemned unfairly.
“The seismic shift caused by Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno’s open support for President Tinubu, the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former PDP vice-presidential candidate Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and other political actors has left the opposition in disarray,” the statement read.
Tinubu’s camp argued that the administration should not be blamed for the “gross incompetence, poor organization, and indiscipline” within the opposition parties. According to Onanuga, democracy is thriving in Nigeria, and there has been no government directive aiming to dismantle the multiparty system.
The statement also called out what it described as hypocrisy from critics who celebrated the formation of a regional coalition against Tinubu but are now decrying defections to the APC as signs of authoritarianism.
“Freedom of association and choice are fundamental democratic rights,” the statement emphasized. “Democracy is not undermined simply because politicians choose to realign politically.”
Tinubu’s administration reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s democratic structures. It also lauded the APC’s leadership, under Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, for keeping the party vibrant and attractive.
The statement concluded by urging Nigerians to support the administration’s reforms and ignore alarmists who seek to create fear and division based on unfounded narratives.
