Governor Sule dismisses fears of one-party state amid defections to APC

By Kunle Sanni

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has dismissed concerns that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party state under President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following a wave of high-profile defections from opposition parties.

Sule made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu. The meeting, which centered on governance in Nasarawa State and internal party affairs, came on the heels of a major political shift: the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, former PDP vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, to the APC.

Their defection is the latest in a string of high-level moves that have sparked debate about the state of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.

Asked whether the defections point to the rise of a one-party system, Sule dismissed the notion as unfounded.

“I don’t believe, even remotely, that we are heading toward a one-party state,” he said. “We do not want Nigeria to be a one-party state. Our goal is to be the dominant party. If we win 90% of the votes and others win 10%, that’s democracy at work.”

The governor attributed the APC’s growing momentum to public support for President Tinubu’s reform agenda rather than political coercion or democratic backsliding. He cited key government initiatives such as economic liberalization, fuel subsidy removal, power sector reforms, and investments in agriculture and vocational training as drivers of the APC’s widening appeal.

“Every reform has its challenges, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks,” Sule said. “Those who are satisfied with the government’s direction are the ones aligning with the APC.”