The Presidency has dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is coercing opposition politicians into defecting to the ruling party, insisting that those crossing over are doing so voluntarily.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said defectors are motivated by what it described as the visible gains of President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, not intimidation or pressure.
The statement also rejected allegations that the Federal Government is using anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to harass or silence opposition figures. According to the Presidency, President Tinubu does not direct any anti-corruption agency on who to investigate, arrest, or prosecute.
Describing the opposition’s claims as an attempt to find scapegoats for political failure, the Presidency said freedom of association is guaranteed by the Constitution and allows politicians to change parties at will. It questioned whether Nigeria’s democracy was ever threatened when politicians defected en masse to the Peoples Democratic Party between 2000 and 2015.
The Presidency further stated that the EFCC is an independent institution empowered by law to carry out its duties without interference, stressing that political affiliation does not shield anyone from accountability. It added that those facing investigations should defend themselves through legal means rather than making political accusations.
According to the statement, allegations of “weaponising” anti-graft agencies are distractions from the achievements of the Tinubu administration and a sign that the opposition is running out of issues.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, the Presidency said the fight against corruption is a collective national responsibility and warned against undermining public institutions through politicised narratives aimed at evading accountability.
