President Bola Tinubu has dismissed allegations that his administration is weakening opposition parties, insisting that political defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are voluntary and not driven by state pressure, Grassroots Parrot reports.
The President spoke during an interfaith Iftar with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he responded to growing criticism that the APC’s expanding influence is the result of coercion and political intimidation.
Addressing the claims, Tinubu said critics were free to express their views but rejected suggestions that he was responsible for the opposition’s challenges. “When they accused me of killing the opposition, I didn’t have a gun,” he said, adding that politicians who changed parties made their decisions independently.
READ ALSO: Igbo Presidency, Kanu’s Release Possible With Support For Tinubu’s 2027 Bid – Cubana
According to him, defections were largely influenced by internal crises within opposition parties rather than actions by his government. “I can’t blame anybody for jumping out of a sinking ship if they did,” the President stated.
Tinubu also linked Nigeria’s broader political tensions to prevailing security challenges, including terrorism and banditry, which he said continue to strain national stability.
He called on political leaders across party lines to prioritise unity and cooperation, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic system was designed to promote cohesion rather than conflict.
“We should pull together and unite in a way our forefathers envisioned to sustain constitutional democracy,” he said.