NDC accuses APC of bribing defecting candidates

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of bribing some of its candidates to defect, describing the development as “good riddance to bad rubbish”.

The party alleged that the APC was offering money, political appointments and other material incentives to induce some of its candidates to abandon the NDC for the ruling party.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the alleged defections were motivated by pecuniary interests rather than genuine political convictions.

The party described the alleged inducements as a desperate attempt by the APC to weaken its ranks, insisting that those who defected lacked the values and ideological commitment associated with the NDC.

“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,” the statement said.

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

The party, however, assured its members and supporters that the defections would not derail its political ambitions, expressing confidence in its ability to challenge the APC.

It said it would immediately conduct fresh congresses to elect new candidates to replace those who had defected in the affected constituencies.

“In line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, the party will immediately conduct fresh congresses to elect credible, competent, and trustworthy candidates to replace the defectors in the affected constituencies,” the statement added.

The NDC urged its members, supporters and Nigerians not to be discouraged by what it described as the ruling party’s alleged attempts to lure some of its members away through financial inducements.

It characterised the defections as signs of the APC’s declining political fortunes, describing them as “the last kicks of a dying horse” and expressing confidence that the ruling party would be defeated.

Reaffirming its commitment to its political agenda, the NDC said it remained determined to rescue the country from what it called the grip of political interests in power and provide Nigerians with 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.