The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that the ruling party is capturing the South-East region through recent waves of political defections, saying instead that the people are voluntarily realigning with national politics.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, the party’s spokesperson, Mr Seye Oladejo, said the South-East’s growing support for the APC is evidence of a conscious political shift rather than coercion.
Oladejo was reacting to remarks made by Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, who reportedly stated that “nobody can capture the South-East with defections.”
The APC spokesman countered Obi’s claim, stressing that the recent political movements were a reflection of the region’s desire for inclusion and progress.
According to him, “Let it be made clear: the APC is not capturing the South-East – the region is voluntarily aligning with the national mainstream because Nigerians are done with emotional blackmail and divisive politics.”
He said the people of the South-East deserve to be part of the nation’s developmental process, noting that the APC-led administration under President Bola Tinubu is committed to unity and national integration.
“The people of the South-East deserve inclusion, infrastructure, and investment – not empty crusades and sentimental activism,” Oladejo stated.
He further argued that Mr Obi lacks the moral standing to criticise others over political loyalty, recalling that he himself had switched parties several times.
“Obi defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and then to the Labour Party (LP). He is already in the political marketplace shopping for yet another platform ahead of the 2027 elections,” he said.
Oladejo maintained that the APC’s growing influence in the South-East was the result of strong political structures and consistency, rather than manipulation or force.
“Politicians must be reminded that power is not served à la carte. It is earned through structure, consistency, and the ability to build bridges across the federation all of which he sorely lacks,” he remarked.
He added that the defection of notable political figures, including governors and lawmakers from the region, signifies a major shift towards national integration.
“Divisive and religious politics no longer have a place in a country that is finally embracing unity and progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. That’s the new reality,” he declared.
Concluding, the APC spokesman said Mr Obi has become politically isolated.
“In truth, Peter Obi now stands politically stranded – abandoned by allies, weakened by reality, and walking alone in a wilderness of his own making. The earlier he faces that truth, the better for what remains of his political relevance,” Oladejo said.
