President Bola Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected claims that his administration is deliberately weakening opposition parties through orchestrated defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that no politician has been coerced or pressured to abandon their political platform.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday during an interfaith Iftar with senators at the Presidential Villa, responding publicly to growing criticism over the steady migration of opposition figures into the APC.
Addressing the allegations, Tinubu said critics were entitled to their opinions but denied any wrongdoing, stressing that he had neither authorised nor encouraged actions aimed at dismantling opposition parties.
“When they accused me of k!ll!ng the opposition, I didn’t have a gun,” the President said. “I could have given myself a licence when I have the authority.”
He argued that political defections should be understood within the broader national climate, describing them as individual decisions taken amid insecurity and governance pressures. Tinubu said he could not fault politicians who chose to leave what he described as a “sinking ship,” pointing to terrorism and banditry as challenges that have placed strain on the country’s political environment.
According to the President, persistent insecurity has created tension across party lines and affected political calculations nationwide. He maintained that these realities, rather than executive interference, explain the current wave of realignments.
Tinubu also called on political leaders to prioritise unity and cooperation, referencing the vision of Nigeria’s founding leaders. He said constitutional democracy was designed to foster collaboration rather than prolonged conflict, urging stakeholders to work together in addressing national challenges.
“And we should pull together, unite in a way that our forefathers contemplated to bring about a constitutional democracy,” he said. “They didn’t say we should fight. It’s a good thing that we are working in harmony.”
The President’s comments come amid sustained public debate over the health of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, as opposition parties raise concerns about shrinking political space and the implications of continued defections for electoral competitiveness.
