Ndume says APC must accept ‘displaced politicians’ amid rising defections
Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no choice but to accommodate “displaced politicians” from other parties amid rising defections.
Ndume spoke at the 6th Annual Award Lecture of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (posthumous birthday celebration) in Abuja, themed “The Power of Pan-African Unity: Strengthening Nigeria’s Role in African Integration and Development.”
Reacting to a statement by former Niger Governor Mu’azu Aliyu, who said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had “removed the cancer” crippling the party through suspensions, Ndume stressed the need for unity in Nigeria.
He said: “I wish you good luck. You said that you have removed the cancer. I do not know whether it is too late or your patient will be revived. We in APC have no choice but to accommodate our displaced politicians that are trooping into APC. Our president is a leader and that comes to the topic of today. What we need is that charity begins at home. Let us be united.”
Ndume urged politicians to support President Bola Tinubu’s leadership to move the country forward. He also criticised other parties for focusing on power struggles ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are far away from 2027, yet the PDP are gathering in Ibadan to say they want to throw away APC. Wait until 2027. Come and contribute to the success of the government, but they are saying that they want to come into APC.
“But when your brother is displaced because of a crisis in his party and he knocks at your door, will you leave the door closed or open it for him? That is what is happening to us. When they come into APC, they are not contributing anything. They do not say anything; they just sit down and be part of it.”
Earlier, Aliyu, who is also Chairman of the 2025 National Planning Committee of the lecture, condemned the mass defections.
“Believe me, if we make the mistake of creating a one-party state in Nigeria, we will pay for it. There was a time when PDP had up to 28 governors and nobody cried foul. But one can cry foul when you see your governor has been taken away either by bribe or intimidation.”
Aliyu added: “Like surgeons, we removed the cancer. The cancer that had been part of our party that crippled the party. We hope with that removal, the party may be able to move and give Nigerians an option.”
Also speaking, Prof. Tijani Mohammad-Bande, President of the 74th UN General Assembly and Chairman of the occasion, called for stronger unity in Nigeria and Africa.
“Nothing will happen, and Nigerians must hear this: we can make no progress if we do not push to our purposeful unity.” He urged Nigerians to follow the example of Nnamdi Azikiwe and other founding fathers in prioritising national development, justice, and democracy.
