Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Tuesday said the recent wave of defections by federal lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC) reflected growing national consensus and signaled that the party is now running a government of national unity.
Bamidele made the assertion at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, during the formal defection of all federal lawmakers from Kebbi State to the APC.
Present at the event were the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Nasir Idris; and the APC National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Argungu, among others.
Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, Garba Maidoki, and all members of the House of Representatives from Kebbi State had earlier met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to inform him of their intention to join the ruling party.
Reacting to public criticism over the defections, Bamidele clarified that President Tinubu did not coerce any lawmaker, added that the decision was made in the national interest.
“We are not turning Nigeria into a one-party state. No one is being forced. These are seasoned politicians making informed decisions for the good of their constituents,” Bamidele said.
He praised the defectors, describing them as respected leaders with distinguished records in public service.
“For instance, Senator Adamu Aliero served as Governor of Kebbi State and as a Minister. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi was Senate Leader in the 9th Assembly. These are men of conviction, not political opportunists,” he noted.
Bamidele further stated that the APC would continue to keep its doors open to all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, religion, or ethnicity, stressing that the current political realignment is driven by a shared vision for national development.
“The APC is not just a political platform anymore. It is a coalition of patriotic Nigerians across party lines, coming together to move the nation forward. That is why we say we are building a government of national unity,” he added.
He urged lawmakers from opposition parties not to view the defections as a threat but as an opportunity for collaboration in the national interest.
“This is not the time for grandstanding. It is a critical moment in our nation’s life when unity and collective effort are paramount,” Bamidele concluded.
