The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has said that the idea of Nigeria transitioning into a one-party state should not be seen as problematic if it reflects the collective will of the people. Ganduje made the statement on Friday after leading three senators from Kebbi State—Adamu Aliero, Yahaya Abdullahi, and Garba Maidoki—to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where they formally declared their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Ganduje downplayed rising concerns over the spate of defections from opposition parties to the ruling party, which many fear could gradually erode the country’s multiparty democracy. According to him, there is no constitutional or democratic violation if the electorate or political actors align with one dominant party based on performance and effective governance.
Ganduje explained that the APC’s expanding influence, which continues to attract opposition members, is a testament to the party’s positive impact on governance. He stated that the emergence of a one-party state, if it happens, would not be through force or imposition but through democratic consensus and voluntary political alignment.
“A one-party state is not something that can be enforced. If the people, through negotiation, effective leadership, and the performance of our party, choose to identify with the APC, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It becomes the collective wish of the people, not an autocratic decision,” he said.
Referencing China as a global example of a thriving one-party system, Ganduje stressed that political stability can sometimes be strengthened when governance is not fragmented by numerous competing interests. “You know the saying—too many cooks spoil the soup. Likewise, too many political parties can distort governance. In China, one of the world’s strongest economies, the system works under a single party, and they are doing well,” he noted.
While asserting that the APC is not actively working towards the elimination of other parties, the former Kano State governor added that the continuous inflow of politicians into the APC is evidence of widespread acceptance of its policies. He encouraged Nigerians to watch developments in the National Assembly, particularly in the coming week, as further realignments and political movements are expected to take place.
Ganduje reiterated that Nigeria’s democracy remains intact and that political movements should be seen as part of the democratic process, not a threat to it. According to him, the ultimate determinant of Nigeria’s political structure will be the people, who have the right to align with the party they believe serves their interest best.
