Key Points

• Senate Leader says opposition defections to APC are voluntary.

• Lawmakers joined APC to support national interest and development.

• Senate dismisses claims of a push for a one-party system.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has rejected claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is pressuring opposition lawmakers to defect.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Senate plenary, Bamidele said the recent defections, including those of three senators from Kebbi State, were driven by personal conviction and national interest.

The lawmakers—Senators Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki—left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the APC.

Bamidele argued these were respected figures with long-standing public service records who were not easily swayed by political pressure.

“They are not in politics to survive,” Bamidele said. “These are men of principles who understand what Nigeria needs at this moment.

They know it’s not the time for political showmanship but for partnership that works.”

Opposition defections to APC not a threat to democracy

Critics have accused the APC of engineering a shift toward a one-party state. Figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and PDP Secretary Samuel Anyanwu have warned that multi-party democracy is under threat.

Bamidele, however, called such claims unfounded. He said the defections reflect democracy in action, where lawmakers exercise their freedom to align with parties that reflect their values and vision for Nigeria.

“This is not coercion,” Bamidele said. “It is the essence of democratic choice. The same happened during the PDP years. What matters is how we govern, not just who governs.”

National unity more important than party lines, says Bamidele

In defending the defections, Bamidele emphasized that Nigeria’s challenges—ranging from economic recovery to security—require collaboration across party lines.

He said that the APC remains open to members from all backgrounds, stressing the importance of inclusivity and shared responsibility in governance.

“People must stop seeing opposition defections to APC as betrayal,” he said.

“It is about building a country that works for all. The door remains open—not just to join APC, but to work together for the country’s progress.”

He also addressed critics who label the 10th Senate as a rubber stamp, saying the legislature is focused on national priorities over partisanship. “We are lawmakers first, not just party men,” he said.