NDC Accuses APC Of Bribing Its Candidates To Defect, Vows To Replace Them | Sahara Reporters

The party accused the ruling party of resorting to what it described as desperate tactics to weaken its ranks ahead of the elections.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of offering money, political appointments and other incentives to induce some of its candidates to defect.

The party described the alleged defections as acts of betrayal by candidates who lacked ideological commitment, saying it would conduct fresh congresses to elect replacements in affected constituencies.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said some of its candidates had been bribed to join the APC for financial and personal gains.

The party accused the ruling party of resorting to what it described as desperate tactics to weaken its ranks ahead of the elections.

“The NDC is fully aware of the desperate and malicious tactics of the APC, which has resorted to offering money, political appointments, and other material incentives to induce some money-minded candidates of our party to jump ship and defect to its sinking fold,” the statement said.

Reacting to the defections, the NDC said the affected candidates had failed to demonstrate the values and ideological commitment expected of members of the party.

“For those who have fallen for this bait, it is clear that they lack the values, virtues, and ideological commitment associated with our great party. They were never truly of us,” it said.

The party added, “To them, we say good riddance to bad rubbish, and we wish them luck in their political misadventures.”

The NDC said it would conduct fresh congresses to select new candidates for the affected constituencies, citing the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

It did not identify the candidates allegedly involved in the defections or provide details of the alleged inducements in the statement.

The party also urged its members and supporters not to be discouraged by the development, insisting that the alleged defections would not derail its political ambitions.

“We wish to reassure our teeming party members, supporters, and well-meaning Nigerians not to be perturbed by the antics of the ruling party in bribing a few of our members,” the statement said.

Describing the alleged defections as a sign of the APC’s declining political fortunes, the NDC said it believed the ruling party was facing imminent defeat.

“These are the last kicks of a dying horse that has seen the handwriting on the wall of its imminent defeat,” it added.

The NDC said it remained committed to what it described as its mission to rescue Nigeria from the current leadership and provide good governance, security and prosperity.

“The NDC remains resolutely committed to its historic mission of rescuing our country from the vice grip of the buccaneers in power and giving Nigerians the good governance, security, and prosperity they so richly desire,” the statement said.

Some former legislative candidates from the ADC and NDC recently defected to the APC in Abuja, led by Princess Dr. Aslam Aliyu Zamfara. Received at Buhari House by APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, the group pledged to mobilise 2 million grassroots votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election.

Also, on Tuesday, Premium Times reported that Ibrahim Kashim, the NDC governorship candidate in Bauchi State, officially resigned amid speculation of an impending move to the APC.