The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, has defended the growing number of defections into the ruling party, saying opposition platforms are losing relevance due to weak structures and internal crises.
Yilwatda spoke on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act, where he dismissed concerns that the surge in defections is pushing Nigeria toward a one-party state.
“It is very fair because they discovered that those political parties are already dying. They saw a reason to join us because of how we operate as a party, from party management to organization and mobilization,” he said.
The APC chairman argued that the ruling party has distinguished itself in governance, internal coordination and consensus-building, making it attractive to politicians seeking stability.
Citing an example, Yilwatda said the APC successfully produced a consensus candidate in Osun after nine aspirants agreed on a single contender, a feat he claimed other parties have failed to achieve without litigation.
In recent months, several lawmakers and political figures have defected from opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party to the APC, further strengthening the ruling party’s dominance.
The APC currently controls about 31 state governments and maintains a majority in the National Assembly. Critics argue that the trend risks weakening multiparty democracy and fostering a de facto one-party system.
However, Yilwatda maintained that the defections are voluntary and driven by what he described as the APC’s superior organisational structure and governance model.
The development comes amid ongoing debates over the implementation of the 2026 Electoral Act and concerns about party discipline, internal democracy and political competition ahead of the 2027 general election.
