President Bola Tinubu, while addressing joint session of the National Assembly, expressed great delight at the crisis bedevilling the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, and other opposition parties in the country.
Mr Tinubu disclosed this on Thursday while addressing members of the Senate and House of Representatives, in commemoration of June 12, 2025, Democracy Day, in honour of the late Moshood Abiola.
Making the disclosure amid the wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2027 election draws near, Mr Tinubu told opposition political parties to blame themselves for their internal crises and not him.
There have been speculations of Mr Tinubu orchestrating a one-party state as strategy to sustain power in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and eradicate opposition.
Mr Tinubu said, “Political parties’ fear of members leaving, may be better served by examining their internal processes and affair, rather than fearful conjuring up demons that do not exist.”
He added, “For me, I would not say try your best to put your house in order, I would not help you to do so either. It is indeed a pleasure to witness you in such a disarray,” and majority of those in attendance–especially the APC members–responded with standing ovation.
Mr Tinubu’s address at the National Assembly joint session followed the cancellation of his planned nationwide broadcast to mark the Democracy Day celebration.
At the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June 2023, out of 109 seats, the APC had 59 seats in the Senate, which has currently increased to 68; PDP members reduced from 36 to 30; Labour Party members reduced from 8 to 5; NNPP reduced from 2 to 1, while the remaining parties have managed to retain their numbers.
In the House of Representatives, which was inaugurated in June 2023, opposition political parties won 182 seats out of 360. However, the opposition number has reduced to 150 dey to defections to the ruling APC.
