President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday assured lawmakers and Nigerians that he has no interest in steering the country towards a one-party system, even as he welcomed defectors from other political groups to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he took pleasure in the internal chaos of the opposition.
Speaking during an address to a joint session of the National Assembly to commemorate Democracy Day, Tinubu dismissed concerns that Nigeria was heading towards a one party state, but is pleased with ongoing defections.
“At no time in the past, nor any instance in the present, and at no future junction, shall I view the notion of one-party state as good for Nigeria. I’ve never attempted to alter any political party registration with INEC. Colleagues, we cannot blame anybody seeking to bail out of a sinking ship even without a life jacket”, the President said.
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Despite asserting that a one-party state “is not in the offing, nor shall it ever be,” Tinubu insisted the APC should not shut its doors to defectors from struggling opposition parties.
“That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed our door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC. I sincerely welcome our party’s newest members,” he said.
“For me, I would not say try your best to put your house in order. I would not help you to do so either. It is indeed a pleasure to witness you in such a disarray,” he said.
Tinubu’s comments come amid amid several high-profile defections in recent months sparking concerns of an alleged one party state.
