Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has dismissed claims that politicians are being forced or coerced by President Bola Tinubu to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking in Lagos amid recent high-profile defections by governors and lawmakers, Aniebonam emphasized that all political moves are voluntary and based on personal convictions rather than compulsion.
He highlighted Nigeria’s multi-party democracy with 18 registered political parties, underscoring that defections do not equate to a shift toward a one-party state. Aniebonam noted that President Tinubu has publicly stated his openness to new members joining the APC but has never coerced anyone. He cautioned that some defecting politicians might be motivated by self-interest, such as seeking protection from investigations, rather than ideological alignment.
Aniebonam also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor governors’ activities closely and urged Nigerians to stay politically vigilant, emphasizing the ultimate power lies with the electorate. He reaffirmed that the NNPP remains open to all Nigerians interested in contesting elections and insisted that the President should be left alone regarding defections.
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