President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has denied allegations that he is orchestrating the wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress, insisting that no politician was pressured or compelled to join the party.
The President spoke on Wednesday night during an interfaith Iftar with members of the Senate at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he addressed concerns that his administration was stifling opposition voices.
Responding to critics who accused him of undermining rival parties, Tinubu maintained that he had neither abused his office nor deployed coercive measures against any political group.
He stressed that those who left their former parties did so of their own accord.
“Critics are entitled to their views. Some say I have killed the opposition, but I didn’t have a gun,” the President said.
“Even though I have the authority, I have not misused it.”
He added that he could not fault politicians who decided to abandon what he described as a failing platform, comparing their actions to passengers exiting a sinking vessel.
Tinubu also called for unity in confronting Nigeria’s security challenges, including terrorism and banditry, urging political actors to work together in the interest of national stability and democratic consolidation.
He appealed to the National Assembly to initiate constitutional amendments that would pave the way for the creation of state police, describing it as a critical step toward addressing the country’s worsening security situation.