Friday May 9, 2025 |

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured Nigerians that the recent wave of defections into the ruling party, including three Senators from Kebbi State, will be managed seamlessly through established party mechanisms, TheNATION reports.

Speaking after leading the defecting senators to meet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Friday, Ganduje said the APC’s constitution and its internal structures provide clear guidance for integrating new members.

“Our constitution is very clear about this and, beyond that, our political dexterity in managing such affairs is on the table. So, I assure you that there will be a smooth integration,” he stated.

The meeting at the State House followed the decision of the three Kebbi senators — previously elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — to decamp to the APC.

The lawmakers — Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central); Senator Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South), according to Ganduje, will soon announce their decision on the floor of the Senate.

Ganduje described the development as strategic and beneficial to the party, noting that the defections were the result of weeks of underground negotiations and consultations among key stakeholders in Kebbi State.

“This is in continuation of the initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the APC must do what it must do democratically in order to increase our numerical strength. In this incident, not only our numerical strength, but also the quality and capacity of our followership have increased,” Ganduje said.

According to him, Tinubu has graciously given his blessing to the senators’ decision, signalling the party’s readiness to formally welcome the new members.

“By Tuesday, you will see what will happen in the Red Chambers,” he added, hinting at an official announcement in the Senate.

The APC chairman dismissed fears that the mass defections could signal a drift toward a one-party state, insisting that the growing dominance of the APC is a reflection of its performance and appeal across the country.

“Leaders worried about a one-party state have no need to fear. A one-party state is not by force; it is by negotiation. It is by other political parties seeing the effect of the positive governance of our party. If they decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that,” he explained.

Citing global examples, Ganduje said: “Today China is one of the strongest countries in the world and is a one-party system. We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that.”

He also took a swipe at current political structure, arguing that a crowded political space could hinder good governance.

“You know they say too many cooks spoil the soup; too many political parties spoil governance,” Ganduje remarked.

In recent months, the APC has recorded several defections from opposition parties in both chambers of the National Assembly, a trend many attribute to the consolidation of power by the ruling party under President Tinubu.

Ganduje maintained that the APC remains committed to democratic principles and inclusiveness, asserting that every new member would find a place within the party’s broad framework and leadership structure.