A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on opposition parties to stop holding President Bola Tinubu responsible for the wave of defections into the ruling party.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, Oyintiloye, a former member of the now-defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, stated that rather than point fingers at the President, opposition members should introspect and focus on strengthening internal democracy within their ranks.
He argued that political realignment is not a new development in Nigeria and that recent defections have been motivated by ideological convictions rather than coercion.
“Many defectors claimed they were sidelined, undermined, and unfairly treated by their former parties, leaving them with no option but to switch to a party with a sustainable transformation agenda,” he said.
Oyintiloye attributed the exodus from opposition parties to persistent internal crises that have gone unresolved for years, suggesting these internal issues were primarily responsible for the current political shifts.
“This season of political recalibration, which has led to a growing number of Nigerian politicians defecting en masse to the ruling APC, indicates that the party has demonstrated the capability to transform the country through the President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
“Mr President has shown a clear commitment to prioritising national development and creating a more viable political platform, which is attracting new members to the APC fold,” he added.
Predicting that more defections—particularly from the Peoples Democratic Party—were imminent, Oyintiloye cautioned against shifting blame to President Tinubu or the APC. He urged the opposition to take responsibility for their internal instability.
He also dismissed suggestions that the wave of defections could usher in a one-party system in Nigeria.
“How can defections to the ruling party lead to a one-party system when we still have more than 60 registered political parties in the country?
“Instead of blaming the President or the ruling party, opposition parties must develop robust strategies to stem the trend by improving internal democracy—allowing dissent, conducting transparent primaries, and making inclusive decisions within their party structures. This will help to discourage defections by politicians from their respective parties,” he stated.
Oyintiloye, however, advised the APC leadership to also focus on maintaining internal cohesion. He stressed the importance of protecting long-standing members and ensuring that the influx of new entrants does not create tension or displace loyal party faithful.
He added by warning that the management of defectors must be handled carefully to avoid future internal conflicts within the APC.
