Mohamed Graba
Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary of Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC), has firmly dismissed allegations that the party’s acceptance of recent defectors is undermining democracy. Instead, Morka emphasized that the APC’s robustness and internal vigor are testaments to its democratic integrity.
Speaking on TVC on Friday, Morka stressed that the APC is not only withstanding external pressures but is also tackling inevitable internal challenges. “The APC today, clearly, in comparison to all of the other parties in the opposition, is holding its own,” Morka asserted. According to him, every political organization must navigate internal conflicts and diverse interests, which are natural in any group formed by individuals from varied backgrounds. “What matters is how the party manages those contradictions and internal conflicts of interest,” he added, highlighting that resilience in the face of such challenges is what defines a dynamic political party.Morka further countered suggestions that the party is responsible for weakening democratic norms by absorbing defectors. He argued, “There is no democratic idea, norm, or system anywhere in the world where a ruling party is under obligation to build the opposition.” In his view, the very essence of a democratic system lies in political competition—parties vie for power and, in doing so, inevitably shape the democratic landscape.
He dismissed the notion that accepting new members from other political factions would somehow lead to a one-party state, categorizing such claims as “ridiculous.” For Morka, the APC’s strategy is centered on competition, not consolidation of power at the expense of democratic plurality.
In an attempt to highlight the contrast between the APC and its political counterparts, Morka pointed to the ongoing discord within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for, in his opinion, disregarding the PDP’s constitutional guidelines by contesting in the 2023 presidential election despite existing zoning agreements. According to Morka, this defiance sowed seeds of internal conflict within the PDP, ultimately contributing to the party’s current crisis.
“The problem in the PDP was Atiku’s obdurate refusal to abide by the convention of his own party and its constitution,” Morka explained. He contended that the unrest plaguing the PDP stemmed from Abubakar’s unilateral decision-making, which, in his view, broke the party’s long-standing tradition of respecting regional rotational agreements.
In summarizing the APC’s position, Morka underscored that political parties are, by design, impermanent entities, continuously evolving through internal debate and change. The APC’s willingness to incorporate diverse viewpoints—even from defectors ranks—illustrates an adaptive and competitive spirit that is vital in a functioning democracy.
By rejecting the notion that its evolving membership structure signals a weakening of democratic principles, the APC reaffirms its commitment to lively political contestation and institutional resilience in Nigeria’s vibrant yet challenging political landscape.⁶
