Buhari, APC Not Forcing Anyone To Join Party – Presidency

The president has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari or the All Progressives Congress (APC) does not force opposition politicians to join the ruling party.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Shehu was reacting to a statement former ex-Jigawa governor, Sule Lamido, that it is not honourable for Buhari to receive members of other political parties into the APC at the Presidential Villa.

Lamido also accused the president and APC of using blackmail to get members of the opposition into their fold.

Speaking to DailyTrust, Garba Shehu pointed out that there is no law banning Buhari from receiving defectors at the Villa.

He said the APC attracted leaders of other political parties into her fold through persuasion and promise delivery, stressing that no one is being forced to join the ruling party.

Dismissing the notion that reception of decampees with mandates of other parties was another form of corruption, he said the APC would not emulate the tradition of the PDP.

“I think the former governor should read the constitution. Much as the president has one vote, he is a leader. There is no law stating that a sitting president cannot, as a recognised leader of his party, welcome new members. This is not corruption. Political corruption is when a sitting governor is shown Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) papers and offered a choice of either facing prosecution or decamping. This is what their party, the PDP, did in their 16 years.

“On the other hand, no one is being for forced to join the APC,” he said.