APC defends wave of defections, says rivals ‘dying’

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended the growing wave of defections into its ranks, arguing that politicians are joining the party because of its stronger organisation and governance record.

The party’s national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, said politicians were leaving opposition platforms after concluding that those parties were weakening.

Speaking on Sunday at the Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act, Yilwatda said the APC’s internal structures and political management were attracting new members.

“It is very fair because they discovered that those political parties are already dying,” he said. “They saw a reason to join us because of how we operate as a party — from party management to organisation and mobilisation.”

According to him, the APC offers stronger political competition through what he described as better governance and party administration.

“APC seems to be the best party in terms of mobilisation, organisation and governance. That provides a leeway for competition,” he said.

“When I go to the market, I have a choice to make: a choice between good governance, good party management and a transparent system.”

Yilwatda also pointed to the party’s use of consensus arrangements during primary elections as an example of its internal cohesion.

“We have a primary solution where, through consensus, all nine candidates in Osun State agreed on a single candidate,” he said.

“No other political party in Nigeria has achieved a consensus like that without ending up in court. Only APC has successfully done that in two states.”

In recent months, the ruling party has witnessed a surge of defections from opposition figures, swelling its ranks while weakening rival platforms including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party.

The APC currently controls about 31 states through its governors and holds a commanding majority in the National Assembly.

Critics, however, say the growing influx of politicians into the ruling party risks turning Nigeria into a de facto one-party state.

Yilwatda dismissed such concerns, insisting that the defections were a natural outcome of political competition and the APC’s organisational strength.