Defections: APC Majority In Senate Won’t Endanger Democracy — Oshiomhole
A former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed concerns that the growing number of lawmakers defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television political programme, Oshiomhole responded to questions regarding the recent defection of three senators to the APC, bringing the party’s total strength in the Senate to 68, edging closer to a two-thirds majority. “Whether this is a danger to democracy? No, I don’t think so,” he stated on Tuesday. According to him, an APC majority will not eliminate debates or dissent in the National Assembly, noting that lawmakers often vote based on issues, not party lines. “If you’ve been following debates in the Senate, sometimes you can’t even distinguish who is PDP or APC in terms of the positions people take,” he said. Oshiomhole added that having an aligned legislature is not unusual in democratic societies, citing the United States as an example. “The US celebrates when a president has control of both the Congress and the Senate. Every government wants that because democracy, in a sense, is not only a means to an end — it is an end in itself. “The right to contribute and the freedom to express yourself are part of what defines democracy, not just the number of parties represented,” he argued. He maintained that his loyalty lies with the national interest over party allegiance. “If you watch my contributions on the floor of the Senate, the first party is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I’ve argued, and I make no apologies, that the total of all political parties in Nigeria, whether in or out of government, is not equivalent to Nigeria. If I see a conflict between party interest and national interest, I have no difficulty in resolving it in favour of Nigeria,” he said. Excited For Defections Reflecting on the defections, Oshiomhole said he was personally pleased, particularly because those who crossed over were foundational members of the APC. “I was particularly excited because those who joined us today include co-founders of the APC. When a founder of a house returns to the house, those of us who have been there and missed their absence, it’s a thing of joy,” he said. He also dismissed suggestions that people who defect to the APC do so out of coercion. Touching on his widely criticised 2019 comment that “when you join the APC, your sins are forgiven,” Oshiomhole said the statement was deliberately taken out of context and used to cause mischief. “It hurt me. That was mischief,” he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Senators Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), and Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) formally defected from the PDP to the APC during a Senate plenary session. Their move followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu and other party leaders. The defections increased the APC’s numerical strength in the 10th Senate to 68. The Senate’s composition now stands as follows: APC – 68, PDP – 30, Labour Party – 5, NNPP – 1, SDP – 2, and APGA – 1. Meanwhile, the PDP is exploring reconciliation efforts amid rising defections. Commenting on the House of Representatives’ rejection of a bill proposing rotational presidency, Oshiomhole said the move was appropriate, arguing that using geography as a legal basis for power distribution holds little merit. “The defeat of the rotational presidency motion, in my view, is appropriate. To try to use law to enforce geography as a basis, I don’t find much merit in it. Tinubu didn’t need rotation to be president — he fought his way through,” he said.
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