Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in an interview with The Nigerian Tribune, addressed the trend of politicians defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Responding to the suggestion that most politicians in the country appear to have joined the APC, he said such a claim is exaggerated. He maintained that many credible politicians have deliberately chosen not to align with what he described as the ongoing political movement in Abuja.
He further argued that those defecting to the APC are not necessarily doing so because they are convinced of the government’s performance or its benefit to Nigerians. According to him, available evidence does not indicate that the ruling party is delivering effectively.
Referencing a 2025 Afrobarometer report, he pointed out that about 94 percent of Nigerians believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. On that basis, he suggested that politicians who continue to join or support the ruling party may be acting in ways that do not reflect the expectations and concerns of the general public.
Further talking, he said, “One governor said as a precondition for him to join the party, his son who has been in exile should be allowed to return home. This son was charged with his father for corruption; the son ran away and now he said one of the conditions for joining their party is for his son to be allowed to return back. He also asked that he should be allowed to pick his successor and that he should be given the ticket to go to the Senate.”
He said that what is happening behind the scenes reflects a concerning situation in the country. According to him, while many Nigerians are struggling with hardship and some even lack food to break their fast during Ramadan, political leaders continue to receive large sums of money on behalf of the people without delivering visible results.
He further stated that, in his view, politicians are not joining the ruling party out of genuine belief in its performance, but rather out of self-preservation and due to various personal and political vulnerabilities. He added that this is why he believes there is a need for an alternative political option, regardless of differing opinions. Read_More…