The All Progressives Congress League of Professionals (ALP) has dismissed as baseless, insinuations from some political commentators that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the verge of implosion ahead of the 2027 general elections due to the wave of defections from opposition parties into its ranks.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Marlin Daniel, a pioneer Secretary of the Bayelsa State APC and current Board Member of the Federal University, Otuoke, the group described such claims as “false, unfounded, and mischievous.”
According to the ALP, welcoming new members into the ruling party ahead of 2027 is not a sign of crisis but rather “an indication of acceptance, popularity, and the delivery of good governance. Political parties are built on membership,”
The statement further read., “There is nothing wrong with admitting new members into the APC. In fact, it should be celebrated as a sign of growth. It is not a crime if all Nigerians join the APC, and opposition to this healthy development especially from within the ruling party is unfortunate..
“In multi party democracies like Nigeria, to remain a dominant political party is even more demanding. With various political parties, regional, tribal and even religious interests to contend with, political actors must go beyond the basics and magnanimously carry every interest along to assuage dissenting voices.
“This is exactly what the All Progressives Congress (APC) under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda is currently doing. APC, Nigeria’s political flag bearer didn’t come to power through the backdoor and so it is not a stranger to the Nigerian political landscape.
“The party had over time, tried and learnt from its mistakes. It has now won the trust, admiration and confidence of Nigerians and hence the massive influx of high profile political stakeholders from other political parties. This is not magic but a product of astute leadership, team work and fairness which has garnered confidence and support for the ruling party.
“Those who are skeptical or even opposed to this wave of defections should rather humble themselves and learn from the chief political tactician, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the unassuming National Party Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. These two and the multitude of loyal party members are the reasons why these defections won’t stop and the victory of the APC at the polls come 2027 will be a successful without any implosion as many prophets of doom would want us to believe.
“For the records, no organization will survive without new members. In fact, recruitment of new members is central to survival of any human system. A political party cannot survive without new members. Canvasing for, and accepting new members into the APC should be celebrated by all stakeholders, not just because it is a sign of growth but because it is an indication of acceptance, popularity and the delivery of good governance. It’s not a crime if all Nigerians join the APC and to imagine that opposition to this healthy development are coming from within the ruling party is abhorrent.
“Nigerians must understand that the current National Chairman of the party, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda is on track, and hence, the love for the party shown through the defections. APC was not always an attractive option for a vast majority of Nigerians especially members of the opposition. The mass exodus has now become a reality because there’s a leader who has taken painful steps to reconcile aggrieved party members and extended a hand of welcome to anybody who wishes to join the winning team. This should call for celebration and not skepticism.
“Again, Mr. President has demonstrated uncommon courage, dedication, commitment and loyalty in discharging his duties in line with the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. By fairly serving Nigerians and carrying everyone along, President Tinubu has won the confidence of Nigerians. These defections are not forced but conscious, deliberate acts of political alignment aimed at attracting dividends of democracy to every corner of the country. One cannot dismiss this as unhealthy for the party because in democracy, there’s strength in numbers.
“Defections or decampings are indeed formal and legal means of switching party membership. Those opposed to this sadly know the truth but a probably driven by selfish motives rather than genuine concern for the party. To have high value stakeholders like governors decamping to the ruling party is a clear indication that there are crisis in their respective parties. In fact, some of those political parties are dead. How can you expect high performing governor’s like Douye Diri of Bayelsa State to remain in a political party that’s in already coma and which political party won’t be proud to receive such an enigma?
“The days of one-man show in APC or a few persons deciding the fate of party for others is over. Whether you choose to describe the National Chairman as a Personal Assistant (PA) to the President or predict the downfall of the party, the current National Chairman has brought his wealth of experience as an academic, adminstrator and leader into the party and the result is visible for anyone to see as against the naysayers insinuations that he lacks capacity. This is falsehood built on sand without a foundation to sustain it”.
On the issue of the north’s hostility towards Mr. President’s reelection, ALP dismissed it as “utterly false that the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is threatened due to the so-called northern hostility against APC”. Labelling it as “a fabrication from a supposed party man with the sole intention to discredit the National Chairman of the party and Mr. President’.
The group noted that, “the north is not just a person, local government or state but a region with diverse political interests. It is not true that the north is hostile to Mr. President because he has Vice President from the same region, a National Security Adviser (NSA), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Service Chiefs, party chairman, ministers, diplomats, Board appointees and political associates from the region. On what basis is this hostility and must everybody in the north vote for him before he’ll win the 2027 elections?
“Nigerians are at liberty to vote for whoever they choose, those trying to score cheap political points should know better. There is freedom of association in Nigeria and not every Nigerian must be in the APC or vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027. What is important is that majority of Nigerians are happy with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the way Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda is handling the party. They’ll therefore vote for the APC to ensure national development and improved welfare of Nigerians”.
