President Bola Tinubu has rejected allegations that his administration is deliberately crippling opposition parties, insisting that political defections into the ruling camp are voluntary and not the result of coercion.
The President made the remarks during an interfaith Iftar with senators at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he addressed concerns over the growing dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Responding to critics who accuse his government of suppressing dissent and engineering defections, Tinubu dismissed the claims in blunt terms.
“When they accused me of killing the opposition, I didn’t have a gun,” he said, adding that he had not used state authority to force anyone to abandon their political platform.
His comments followed a wave of high-profile defections from opposition parties to the APC, developments that have triggered debate about the health of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Tinubu maintained that lawmakers and political actors who switched allegiance did so out of their own conviction, not under pressure.
“But I can’t blame anybody for jumping out of a sinking ship,” he remarked, suggesting that internal instability within opposition parties may be responsible for the exodus.
The President argued that Nigeria’s democratic system guaranteed freedom of association and political choice, noting that elected officials are entitled to reassess their affiliations.
Beyond partisan politics, Tinubu pointed to broader national challenges, including terrorism and banditry, as issues requiring collective action across party lines.
He urged political leaders to prioritise unity and collaboration in the interest of national stability.
“Our forefathers envisioned a constitutional democracy that would unite us, not divide us,” he said, stressing the need for harmony rather than confrontation in the political space.
The President’s remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with realignments and coalition talks already shaping the emerging landscape.
While opposition figures continued to express concerns about fairness and political balance, Tinubu’s stance underscores the administration’s position that Nigeria’s democratic environment remains open and competitive.
