The founder and chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has said that politicians joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) are doing so out of their own free will and not because of any pressure from President Bola Tinubu.
Aniebonam said this on Friday in Lagos while reacting to the wave of defections by governors and lawmakers from opposition parties to the ruling APC. He noted that joining or leaving a political party is a personal choice, and there is no evidence that anyone is being forced to join the APC.
“We have not seen anyone defecting at gunpoint. They do so based on their personal convictions,” he said.
He dismissed claims that Tinubu is trying to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, saying such allegations are baseless. According to him, Nigeria has 18 registered political parties, which proves that the country still practices a multi-party system.
“Even if all PDP governors and some others join APC, that doesn’t make Nigeria a one-party state,” he said.
“The President has said he won’t stop anyone from joining APC—it’s their right. Likewise, the APC has the right to seek more members for re-election.”
He added that Nigerians are now more politically aware and will hold leaders accountable regardless of the party they belong to.
Aniebonam also accused some governors of poor performance, saying many of them are defecting to the APC to avoid investigation.
“Many governors are not doing much for their states. They think joining the APC will give them a cover from scrutiny,” he said. “But APC must be careful—sometimes the biggest problems come from within.”
He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor state governments closely and prosecute any governor found guilty of embezzling public funds.
Aniebonam encouraged President Tinubu to continue prioritising the welfare of Nigerians, while also calling on institutions like INEC, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies to perform their duties effectively.
He said the NNPP remains open to all Nigerians who believe they are capable of leading, adding that “Tinubu is not stopping anyone from testing their popularity.”