Gbolahan Salman Sokoto
Former Sokoto State Governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using economic hardship to lure politicians into defecting. His remarks have sparked a sharp response from the APC, which his media office described as an attempt to stifle opposition voices and distract from Nigeria’s deepening crises.
In a statement issued on Monday, Tambuwal’s media team condemned the APC’s rebuttal, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, calling it a desperate effort to mask the country’s deteriorating economic and security situation.
“The APC’s attempt to frame recent defections as a result of President Tinubu’s so-called economic reforms is both misleading and insulting to Nigerians who continue to endure unprecedented hardship,” the statement read.
Tambuwal warned that Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions rising inflation, increasing unemployment, and deepening insecurity are forcing politicians to switch allegiance, not out of belief in APC’s leadership but as a survival strategy.
The media office described these defections as a sign of desperation rather than confidence in the ruling party’s governance.
“These defections are not a testament to APC’s good governance but rather a reflection of the desperation for survival amid economic distress,” the statement asserted.
The media team accused the APC of prioritizing propaganda over governance, arguing that the party’s claims of economic progress are disconnected from the reality of millions of struggling Nigerians. “Foreign reserves and trade surpluses mean little when citizens cannot afford food, shelter, and healthcare,” it added.
Tambuwal’s intervention, according to his camp, is not a mere political statement but a patriotic warning about the state of Nigeria’s democracy. He expressed concern that the APC’s tactics, ranging from coercion to financial enticements could erode democratic principles and weaken the opposition.
“As a founding member of the APC during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal was part of a coalition built on the promise of national development,” the statement noted.
“However, that vision was hijacked by self-serving leaders who now promote ‘stomach infrastructure’ a system where economic hardship is used to manipulate political allegiances.”
With Nigeria at a critical crossroads, Tambuwal’s team emphasized the need for leadership that prioritizes integrity and national interest over political opportunism. The statement urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and demand accountable governance rather than be swayed by short-term political incentives.
