The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-East, Mustapha Salihu, has dismissed claims that politicians who defect to the ruling party do so to evade prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Speaking to journalists at his private residence in Yola on Saturday night, Salihu said the allegation was a deliberate attempt to blackmail the administration of President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as having zero tolerance for corruption.
His comments came two months after former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, alleged that the APC had become a safe haven for individuals seeking to escape EFCC investigations.
“It is my belief that more patriots will soon join us even as the PDP self-destructs and the APC becomes a haven for EFCC fugitives,” Lawal had said at the time. He also accused the APC of being “delusional” and claimed its strategy was to manipulate election results ahead of the 2027 polls.
Reacting, Salihu said anyone with credible evidence of corruption involving an APC member should submit a petition, stressing that the party would not shield anyone found culpable.
“A lot of APC chieftains have entered plea bargains and returned stolen funds. Anyone who stole public money will be prosecuted, even if they join the APC, because this administration has zero tolerance for corruption,” he said, adding that corruption had severely damaged the country’s economy.
Salihu also reflected on the formation of the APC, describing it as a coalition initially driven by the goal of unseating former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We succeeded in removing Jonathan from office. After that, those who were only interested in power left, while those committed to policy and governance remained to build the country,” he said.
He further argued that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) would not survive beyond the 2027 general elections, describing it as a power-seeking coalition dominated by presidential hopefuls unwilling to compromise.
“About 80 per cent of those in the ADC are presidential aspirants with messianic ambitions. Nobody will step down for another, and once their objectives are not achieved, they will move on to form another party,” he said.
On speculation about Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri potentially defecting to the APC, Salihu said political negotiations are not conducted in public.
“Our responsibility in the APC is to attract people to the party. I would be happy if Governor Fintiri joins us, but it is undemocratic to prevent anyone from joining a party of their choice,” he said.
“If he comes, fine. If he does not, I wish him well—but not good luck,” Salihu added.