Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District, has outlined stringent conditions under which he would consider defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The senator said any decision to join the APC would depend on major changes in the policies and style of governance of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, particularly policies he believes are causing hardship for Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Monday, Abaribe stated that his primary condition would be the reversal of policies that, in his view, “punish Nigerians.” He also called for a reduction in the size of government and urged the President to rein in aides and officials around him.
According to Abaribe, Nigeria operates a democratic system and not a monarchy, stressing that governance must reflect democratic ideals and accountability.
When asked whether he would defect to the APC if personally invited by President Tinubu, the lawmaker said he would first present his demands to the President.
“You must review all your policies, especially those that punish Nigerians, and reverse them. That is number one. Number two, you cut down your government. Number three, you rein in all the people around you. There are many other things we would also tell him,” he said.
He added that it would be left to the President to decide whether to meet those conditions, noting that leadership should not be exercised in an authoritarian manner.
“This is not a monarchy; it is a democracy,” Abaribe said, adding that he would likely be the last person to defect to the APC.
“If I ever defect, it would mean there are practically no other political parties left in Nigeria,” he concluded.
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