APC Welcomes ‘Displaced Politicians’ Amid Rising Defections – Ndume

 

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no option but to accommodate politicians defecting from other parties, citing the increasing wave of political realignments.

Ndume spoke on Saturday at the 6th Annual Nnamdi Azikiwe Award Lecture in Abuja, themed “The Power of Pan-African Unity: Strengthening Nigeria’s Role in African Integration and Development.”

Reacting to former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Aliyu’s statement that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has removed the “cancer” crippling the party through suspension of some members, Ndume urged political actors to prioritise national unity.

“I wish you good luck. You said you have removed the cancer. I do not know whether it is too late or whether the patient can be revived,” Ndume said.

He added, “We in APC have no choice but to accommodate displaced politicians trooping into the party. Our president is a leader, and what we need is unity at home. Let us be united.”

Ndume noted that opposition parties, particularly PDP, appear more focused on plotting to wrest power in 2027 than on contributing to national development.

“PDP is not comfortable playing the minority or opposition role. Yet, when their members come to APC because of crises in their party, we open the door. But some of them are not contributing; they merely sit and join the party without engagement,” he said.

Earlier, Aliyu, who also chairs the 2025 National Planning Committee for the award lecture, cautioned against creating a one-party state in Nigeria, stressing the need for alternatives.

“Like surgeons, we removed the cancer that had crippled our party. We hope with this, PDP can now provide Nigerians with options,” he said.

The event also featured Tijani Mohammad-Bande, President of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, who urged politicians to emulate Nnamdi Azikiwe by prioritising national interest over personal ambitions.

“Nothing will happen if Nigerians do not pursue purposeful unity. Our founding fathers fought, quarreled, but ultimately stood for Nigeria,” Mohammad-Bande said.