President Tinubu Coercing Opposition To Defect – Dele Momodu Claims

…Says, president using intimidating tactics to weaken opposition

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dele Momodu, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration of adopting strong-arm intimidating, arm-twisting tactics and intimidation to pressure opposition politicians into defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Momodu, who is also the publisher of Ovation magazine, specifically said that fear as against genuine conviction and or political alignment, is the driving force in the recent wave of defections to the ruling APC.

Dele Momodu, who stated these on Wednesday, when he featured on Channels Television programme; ‘Politics Today’, however, said that in politics, things can change in 24 hours.

He noted that the trend reflects a political climate dominated by coercion and survival instincts as against conviction.

He stressed that the defection of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and his successor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, as well as Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South, were not as a result of conviction but coercion.

Momodu said that he was not in any way surprised about Senator Okowa’s defection particularly against backdrop of the recent harassment he faced.

Momodu said; “I would be truly amazed if President Bola Tinubu believes people are joining the APC out of admiration for his leadership — this is pure survival. The days of going to prison as a political martyr are over”.

He lamented what he described as a shift from principled politics to self-preservation, stressing that the courage of past African icons like Nelson Mandela, MKO Abiola, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo who endured detentions for their convictions are far gone.

According to him; “Today, no one wants to go to detention. Everybody wants to stay home and flaunt the money they have made from politics. Name one politician who hasn’t been harassed by the EFCC or ICPC at some point,” he asked.

Momodu also castigated what he described as the “APC’s internal cohesion”, stressing that financial inducements are the only factor sustaining the party’s dominance.

He further said; ‘For me, it is clear that this government’s strategy is; ‘if we can’t persuade you, we’ll force you.’ And for now, that force appears to be working”.

The growing number of high-profile defections to the APC are gathering momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many stakeholders and political observers warning of possible consequences for the nation’s democracy and opposition resilience.