Why political parties fail -Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has issued a stark warning to members of his party, stressing that political parties often go bankrupt not because of electoral defeats, but because of internal divisions and wrong priorities.

He spoke at the 4th National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, and warned against internal decay, saying, “Political parties do not fail just because of electoral defeat. Often, they falter when ego trumps ideology or when ambition replaces discipline.

“They fail when individual interests threaten the collective good. We must guard against such tendencies at all costs.”

The President urged party stakeholders to prioritize unity, discipline and shared values, describing unity—not numerical strength—as APC’s greatest asset.

He asked delegates to behave maturely during the convention and avoid actions that could divide the party.

“There should be no competition that divides us. There should be no results that will hurt us. At the end of this convention, our party must be the winner,” he said.

Tinubu immediately criticized the opposition parties, accusing them of deliberately misinterpreting the Election Law for political gain.

“While we welcome criticism, the ongoing attacks by opposition groups on the 2026 Election Law are detrimental to the Nigerian people,” he told party delegates at Eagle Square.

By placing this issue as a central issue in governance and democratic integrity, the President emphasized that this law was not implemented arbitrarily, but emerged from a strict legislative process and involved public participation.

He said, “It is common knowledge that the process towards amending the 2022 Election Law must go through the legislative scrutiny stage, including public hearings. The Election Law was passed by the National Assembly, which was elected by the Nigerian people in accordance with the Constitution.”

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President Tinubu argued that critics who describe the law as anti-democratic ignore procedural safeguards and risk undermining public confidence in the electoral system.

According to him, the law is a national collective effort to strengthen the electoral process and should not be reduced to a tool of partisan rhetoric.

“This law reflects our collective efforts as a nation to strengthen the electoral system and consolidate democratic governance,” he said.

The President’s statement comes amidst rising political tensions and increasing accusations from opposition parties that recent political developments, including defections to the ruling APC, could undermine democratic competition.

However, Tinubu rejected what he called a “deliberate mischaracterization” of the Electoral Code and his administration’s broader goals, and insisted that constructive criticism—not distortion—was essential for national progress.

The president also rejected claims that the APC was steering Nigeria towards a one-party state, despite a wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling party.

“Let me reiterate, especially to those who often lament and misunderstand us: we are not looking for a one-party state,” he said.

He underscored the importance of opposition in a healthy democracy, and emphasized that governance improves when leaders are challenged and held accountable.

“Democracy thrives on dynamic and healthy competition. As a statesman and political leader, I believe in a credible opposition—an opposition that can challenge, question, and help refine policies. That is how statecraft improves, and good governance is achieved,” he added.

He said the influx of new members into the APC over the past two years shows “the strength of our conviction and the confidence of the Nigerian people in our party.”