APC Hits Back at PDP Over Defection Claims, Says Opposition Can't Blame Ruling Party

Politics

APC Hits Back at PDP Over Defection Claims, Says Opposition Can't Blame Ruling Party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly rejected accusations from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that it is responsible for the opposition party's internal crisis and recent wave of defections.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, made this clear during an appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today on Monday, where he faced off with former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

"First of all, I am sure that my brother does not mean a whole lot what he said because he can't possibly under any guise be blaming the APC for the utter dysfunction and immobility within the internal ranks of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party," Morka stated.

The exchange came after Ologbondiyan claimed that recent defections of opposition leaders to the APC were driven by threats of witch-hunts from the ruling party.

Morka questioned how a party that cannot resolve its leadership issues could be trusted to lead Nigeria. "How can a party that cannot settle on who its chairman and secretary are be trusted to lead the country?" he asked.

The debate follows last month's high-profile defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, along with his predecessor Ifeanyi Okowa, several commissioners, and other officials, from the PDP to the APC. Reports suggest more governors may follow suit in the coming weeks.

Defending his party, Ologbondiyan insisted that regardless of how many opposition leaders the APC attracts, the ruling party will still need to convince ordinary Nigerians to retain power in 2027.

"But you know one thing, at the end of it all, it is going to be about the Nigerians' position," he said. "You may pack all the 36 governors and put them in one boardroom and say they should declare for you. Have you packed the over 200 million Nigerians into the same boardroom? The answer is no."

Political analysts view these defections as potentially significant ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections, with both parties already positioning themselves for what promises to be a highly contested campaign season.