Senate President Godswill Akpabio has hinted at the possibility of more opposition-controlled states endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.
He made this known on Thursday while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit in Abuja.
In a revealing remark, Akpabio disclosed that a senator currently serving under the Labour Party (LP) had privately expressed his desire to defect to the ruling APC. The Senate President said the senator approached him just before the summit commenced.
“As I was leaving, one senator was tugging at my clothes, pleading with me,” Akpabio recounted. “‘Please take me there,’ he said. I told him, ‘You can’t come now.’ He’s from the Labour Party. I won’t mention his name—he’s sitting in my car outside.”
Akpabio’s comments come amid growing political realignments, with several opposition politicians recently crossing over to the APC. The ruling party has welcomed the defections as a sign of increasing support for Tinubu’s leadership and the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Speculation of One-Party Dominance
The surge in defections has stirred public debate and speculation that Nigeria may be drifting toward de facto one-party dominance. Critics argue that the wave of political cross-carpeting could erode the strength of the opposition, potentially weakening democratic checks and balances.
However, both the Tinubu administration and the APC have strongly denied any intention of turning Nigeria into a one-party state. They maintain that the defections are voluntary and stem from a shared belief in the current administration’s vision and policy direction.
The APC National Summit served as a platform for party leaders to review progress, solidify party unity, and chart a strategic course for upcoming elections.
