President Bola Tinubu on Thursday called on opposition political parties to put their house in order, saying he will not help them to fix their crisis.
Tinubu, who made the remarks during his State of the Nation address at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja, said he takes pleasure in seeing opposition parties on disarray.
The President also dismissed claims that his administration is behind the crisis in opposition parties, saying he is not looking to drive the country into a one-party state.
He added that members of the ruling All Progressive Party would be guilty of political malpractice if they refuse to allow defectors from other party to join the APC.
Tinubu’s Remarks
At the session held to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, Tinubu said, “Political parties fearful of members leaving may be better served by examining their internal processes and affairs rather than fearfully conjuring up demons that do not exist.
“For me, I would say try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you do so.
“It is, indeed, a pleasure to witness you in such disarray.
“A one-party state is not in the offing. Nor should it ever be. That said, we would be guilty of political malpractice if we closed the door on those from other parties who now seek to join the APC and I sincerely welcome our party’s newest members from Delta and Akwa Ibom States led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Pastor Umo Eno and other members of this National Assembly.”
“We must welcome and accept the diversity and number of political parties just as we welcome and embrace the diversity of our population.
“Our efforts must never be to eliminate political competition but to make that competition salutary to the national well-being by working across the political aisle whenever possible.”
The major opposition parties in the country are in crisis, and many have blamed the President for it.
The crisis in the People’s Democratic Party began after the primary of the 2025 presidential election and is still going. The Labour Party, on the other hand, began to face a crisis after the election.
