The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has denied claims that Nigeria’s ruling party is steering the nation toward a one-party system, describing such allegations as baseless and unfair.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, Basiru addressed recent waves of high-profile defections from opposition parties to the APC, most notably the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa earlier in the day.
Basiru argued that the growth of the APC was not a result of coercion or state-backed intimidation, but rather a reflection of weak opposition structures and proactive grassroots engagement by his party.
“How can we turn Nigeria into a one-party state?” he asked. “The country is not our making. The policies of the country are not our making. The real issue is that we lack a serious opposition that takes its role responsibly.”
The APC scribe challenged critics and the media to objectively assess the activities of opposition parties, questioning their visibility and engagement compared to the APC’s consistent political mobilization across the country.
“One of the key objectives under the leadership of Abdullahi Ganduje is to build a fully functional party structure in every ward, local government, and state. And that’s exactly what we’re doing,” he stated.
Citing past experiences of persecution, Basiru recalled the days when now-President Bola Tinubu, as the lone opposition governor in the Southwest after the 2003 elections, faced multiple investigations and trials but remained steadfast in building the APC.
He also rejected claims that the APC uses state institutions to pressure opposition politicians into defecting, quoting African revolutionary Amílcar Cabral to emphasize accountability within parties.
“Tell no lie, claim no easy victory. When you’re in opposition and you start lying to yourself about why your party is failing, you’re only making excuses,” Basiru said.
To further dispel notions of political coercion, Basiru listed recent defectors—spanning the House of Representatives, Senate, and state executives—most of whom, he noted, have no corruption charges pending.
“Do any of these defectors have EFCC or ICPC cases? People are joining because of our expanding influence, not out of fear,” he maintained.
He described the recent defections in Delta State as a strategic gain for the APC and a sign of its rising credibility.
“The outcry from the opposition only shows they know how important Delta is. We’re simply doing the groundwork—moving from one area to another, taking our message directly to Nigerians.”
On whether President Tinubu has a hand in the defections, Basiru insisted: “President Tinubu will not coerce anyone. He is a democrat to the core.”
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