National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said three serving senators from Kebbi State elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would formally defect to the APC next week.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa yesterday, Ganduje said the defection of the Kebbi lawmakers was a product of weeks of underground negotiations within major stakeholders in the state, aimed at boosting the party’s numerical and political strength.
“In continuation with the initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that APC must do what we must do democratically in order to increase our numerical strength — and not only our numerical strength but also our quality and capacity of followership — I am pleased to inform you that the three PDP senators from Kebbi State have reached a resolution to decamp to our great party, the APC,” Ganduje stated.
According to him, President Tinubu has “graciously blessed” the move, which will be formally announced in the Senate by Tuesday.
“This is a good development and it is in consonance with what is happening in Nigeria today. Almost every week in the Senate and the House of Representatives, you see members of other political parties decamping to our party,” he noted.
Ganduje also assured that the party is well prepared to manage the growing number of defectors, pointing out that the APC constitution is clear on the matter and that the party has the political experience required to ensure smooth integration.
“In managing the new influx, our constitution is very clear about this. And not only that — our political dexterity in managing such affairs is on the table. So, I assure you there will be smooth integration,” he said.
Reacting to concerns in some quarters about the implications of a one-party dominant system, Ganduje argued that political consolidation through voluntary alignment with the ruling party is not unlawful or undemocratic.
“If a one-party state is a wish and blessing to Nigeria, then so be it. A one-party state is not by force. It is by negotiation, and it is by other political parties seeing the effect of the positive governance of our party. If they decide to come to our party willingly, I think there is nothing wrong with that.”
He cited China as an example of a strong one-party system that functions effectively. “Today, China is one of the most powerful countries in the world, and it is a one-party system.”
Ganduje concluded by saying: “We are not saying we are working for a one-party system, but if this is the wish of Nigerians, we cannot quarrel with that. You know they say too many cooks spoil the soup — too many political parties spoil governance.”
