My conditions before I can join APC — Senator Abaribe

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District, has outlined stringent conditions under which he would consider defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying such a move would depend largely on major changes in President Bola Tinubu’s style of governance and policy direction.

Speaking during an interview on Monday, the lawmaker said he would only contemplate joining the APC if the Tinubu administration reviewed and reversed policies he believes are causing hardship for Nigerians.

According to him, policies that “punish Nigerians” must be scrapped as a first step.

Abaribe also called for a reduction in the size of government, stressing that the number of aides and officials surrounding the President should be cut down and properly restrained.

He warned against what he described as authoritarian tendencies, insisting that Nigeria is governed under a democratic system and not a monarchy.

Responding to a question on whether he would defect if personally invited by President Tinubu, the senator said he would first present his conditions to the President.

“You must review all your policies, especially those that punish Nigerians, and reverse them.

“That is number one. Number two, you cut down your government.

“Number three, you rein in all the people around you. There are many other things we would also tell him,” Abaribe said.

He added that it would be up to the President to decide whether to meet those conditions, reiterating that governance must align with democratic principles.

“This is not a monarchy; it is a democracy,” he said.

The senator further remarked that he would likely be among the last politicians to defect to the APC, adding that if he ever made such a move, it would suggest that virtually no other political parties remained in Nigeria.