Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has projected a surge in defections from opposition
parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming months,
citing growing public trust in the party’s leadership and direction under
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Abbas made the statement on Saturday during the APC
North-West Zonal stakeholders’ meeting held in Kaduna, where he said the APC’s
recent wave of political gains points to increasing national acceptance of its
governance model.
According to him, the APC has already recorded
significant defections from major opposition parties, including the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party. He referenced the recent
cross-carpeting of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; his predecessor,
Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; and the entire PDP political structure in Delta as
evidence of the trend.
The Speaker also disclosed that no fewer than 25
federal lawmakers have switched to the APC since the 2023 general elections,
with the defectors coming from states including Kano, Osun, Kebbi, Delta, and
Edo.
“These developments reflect the growing trust
Nigerians have in our party and in President Tinubu’s leadership,” Abbas said
in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa
Krishi.
Highlighting the APC’s continued dominance, Abbas
noted that the party currently governs 19 states and controls the majority in
both chambers of the National Assembly. He also lauded the party’s recent
victory in the Edo State governorship election, where Senator Monday Okpebholo
emerged as the governor-elect.
He attributed the APC’s expanding influence to
internal reforms that have strengthened the party’s internal democracy,
improved candidate selection processes, and boosted grassroots mobilization.
“We have revitalized our presence in Zamfara and
Sokoto and consolidated our standing in the South-South, as seen in recent
electoral gains in Rivers and Bayelsa,” he stated.
Reiterating the strategic importance of the North-West
zone, Abbas described the region as the APC’s most critical electoral
stronghold.
“With over 22 million registered voters, according to
the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) 2023 data, the
North-West is not merely a peripheral player but a decisive force in
determining Nigeria’s political future,” he said.
He, however, warned that numbers alone are not enough
to secure victory in future elections. He called for party unity and discipline
to prevent the internal divisions that plagued past contests.
“This is a time for collaboration and a shared
vision,” he urged. “We must remain true to our party’s core values, foster
cohesion, and present a united front.”
On regional development, Abbas highlighted the growing
challenges of insecurity and declining agricultural productivity in the
North-West. He proposed the creation of a zonal coordination platform bringing
together lawmakers, governors, and policy experts to formulate strategic
responses to the region’s pressing needs.
He also advocated for greater youth and women
inclusion in party activities, stressing that their involvement is vital to the
party’s long-term success.
“Their active participation is key to securing our
future,” he concluded.
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