Adamawa APC chieftain Girei denies one-party agenda, says defections reflect free choice
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Dr. Salihu Girei, has rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu is engineering a wave of defections to establish
A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State, Dr. Salihu Girei, has rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu is engineering a wave of defections to establish a one-party system.
Addressing journalists in Yola, Girei dismissed allegations that the president or the APC is steering Nigeria toward a one-party state by attracting high-profile political figures into its ranks.
The former commissioner, who is now a governorship aspirant on the APC platform, defended the defection of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to the party, maintaining that the APC remains open to individuals who choose to join.
“Defections as we are seeing them are a product of free political choice, not coercion,” Girei said, describing Tinubu as a democrat committed to multi-party politics but unwilling to shut the door on those seeking membership in the ruling party.
He attributed the recent defections to what he termed the growing popularity of the Tinubu administration, arguing that improvements in economic stability, food affordability, and national security have made the APC an attractive platform for politicians seeking alignment.
Girei commended Fintiri for his record in Adamawa, citing efforts at fostering unity, tackling insecurity, and delivering infrastructure. He said the APC stands to benefit from having such a figure within its fold.
According to him, Fintiri’s alignment with Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda signals a convergence of vision for stability and growth at both state and federal levels. He added that the move also reflects confidence in the party’s direction under Tinubu and the APC leader in Adamawa, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Girei further stated that, as a governorship aspirant, he sees a solid developmental foundation laid by Fintiri on which he can build, expressing optimism about accelerated progress should he secure the APC ticket and win the 2027 election.
