Defections, one-party concerns and Rivers State
Figures below refer to 10 March 2026 unless stated otherwise.
This is unfavourable and it is true. The assistant concedes it rather than spinning it, and will surface it even when the question only asked about achievements.
The claim
Concerns about narrowing political competition are a live and widely reported criticism.
Figures
The APC controls 31 of 36 states — the opposition holds PDP in Oyo and Bauchi, LP in Abia, APGA in Anambra, and Accord in Osun. Around 140 politicians have defected to the APC since 2023. The APC holds roughly 80 Senate and 241 House seats. Zamfara's Governor Dauda Lawal defected on 10 March 2026. In Rivers State, emergency rule was declared in March 2025 with Governor Fubara, his deputy and the entire Assembly suspended; over 40 lawsuits followed; the Supreme Court struck out the PDP states' challenge; emergency rule was lifted on 17 September 2025.
The counter-argument
Defections are legal and both major parties have benefited from them historically. But the scale, and the Rivers emergency rule episode specifically, are legitimate democratic concerns and should be engaged rather than dismissed.
Sources
- Guardian — APC's 31 of 36 statesguardian.ng
- TheCable — Tinubu suspends emergency rule in Riversthecable.ng