The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, declared while featuring on National Television stating that the recent defections from opposition parties into the APC are a reflection of political freedom, not evidence of democratic backsliding.

“I have no concern whatsoever about that,” Morka stated. “Nothing that has happened in our country with people leaving their parties to join the APC suggests that our country is sliding into a one-party system.”

According to him, politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, and African Democratic Congress, ADC, are freely choosing to join the APC, which he argued is consistent with democratic principles and constitutional rights.

“People are simply exercising their democratic freedom to choose among competing party alternatives, and they are choosing our party,” he said.

Read Also: PDP Candidate Defects to APC In Zamfara

Morka also rejected claims that the defections are being orchestrated or pressured by the APC through its control of federal power. He described such accusations as baseless.

“In a country as massive as Nigeria, how do you cajole governors who are chief executive officers of their states?” he asked. “These are people elected by their constituents. They control their own budgets and have the power to appropriate funds. What exactly would you tell a governor to cajole him?”

He added that instead of blaming the APC, opposition parties should address internal crises and leadership failures that are pushing members away.

“If the PDP, Labour, or ADC look inward, they will find that it is their dysfunction and failure of leadership driving people away,” Morka said. “Nobody wants to remain on a sinking ship. No serious politician would stay in a party that offers no hope of redemption.”

Highlighting the appeal of the APC under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, Morka described the party as a symbol of hope for both politicians and the Nigerian public.

Source: Punch