NNPP Founder Backs Tinubu, Says No One Is Being Forced to Join APC Amid Defections
Erewunmi Peace
The founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has declared that no one is being forced to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), despite the recent wave of defections by top politicians across the country.
Aniebonam made this known in a statement released in Lagos, where he expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as a leader committed to strengthening democracy and political inclusion.
He said the ongoing defections into the APC were based on individual conviction and personal political alignment, not coercion or intimidation.
“Nobody is being forced to join the APC. Every Nigerian politician has the right to belong to any political party of their choice. What is happening today is a natural political alignment,” Aniebonam stated.
The NNPP founder emphasized that the freedom of association remains a fundamental right under Nigeria’s constitution, urging politicians and parties to respect democratic choices rather than fuel unnecessary speculation.
Aniebonam, who founded the NNPP in 2002, also noted that politics should be driven by ideology, service, and good governance rather than sentiment or party rivalry. He commended President Tinubu for fostering what he called “an open political environment” where dialogue and participation are encouraged.
His remarks come amid a series of high-profile defections from opposition parties to the APC, including governors, lawmakers, and other political figures across the federation.
Political observers view Aniebonam’s comments as a show of confidence in the Tinubu administration, even as opposition voices continue to criticize the recent defections as unhealthy for Nigeria’s democracy.
