Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) must continue to accept “displaced politicians” defecting from other parties as political realignments increase across the country.
Ndume stated this during the 6th Annual Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe Award Lecture in Abuja, themed “The Power of Pan-African Unity: Strengthening Nigeria’s Role in African Integration and Development.”
Responding to comments by former Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, who said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had removed “the cancer destroying the party” by suspending certain members, Ndume urged political actors to prioritise national unity.
“You said you have removed the cancer. I don’t know whether it’s too late or whether the patient can still be revived.
We in the APC have no choice but to accommodate the displaced politicians trooping into our party,” Ndume said.
He added that President Bola Tinubu’s leadership requires unity from all sides:
“What we need is charity beginning at home. Let us be united.”
The senator criticised opposition parties for focusing on the 2027 elections rather than contributing to governance.
“We are far from 2027, yet the PDP is gathering in Ibadan to say they want to throw away the APC. Wait until 2027. Come and contribute to the success of the government.”
Ndume also warned that the APC risked becoming “overloaded,” comparing the influx of defectors to a ship burdened with empty cargo that could capsize.
According to him, the APC leadership invited some opposition members, but many defectors have offered little value since joining.
“When your brother is displaced by a crisis in his party and knocks at your door, will you keep it closed? That is what is happening to us. But when they come into the APC, they contribute nothing. They just sit down.”
Earlier, Aliyu who chaired the event condemned mass defections to the APC, warning against the emergence of a one-party state.
“If we make the mistake of creating a one-party state in Nigeria, we will pay for it,” he cautioned.
He maintained that the constitution does not permit elected officials to switch parties with the mandate of another political platform.
“Like surgeons, we removed the cancer that had crippled the PDP. We hope the party can now recover and give Nigerians a meaningful alternative.”
Also speaking, Tijani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th UN General Assembly, stressed the need for unity across Nigeria and Africa. He urged leaders to emulate Nnamdi Azikiwe’s commitment to national cohesion.
“Nothing will happen if we do not push toward purposeful unity. Nigerians must know what our founding fathers stood for. They fought and disagreed, but always stood for Nigeria,” he said.
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