Tinubu Convenes Police Council as APC Defends Wave of Opposition Defections
President Bola Tinubu will formally consider Tunji Disu's appointment as Inspector-General of Police at Monday's Nigeria Police Council meeting, while the ruling APC attributes recent high-profile defections to governance performance rather than political inducements.
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to convene the Nigeria Police Council on Monday to formally consider the appointment of Tunji Disu as substantive Inspector-General of Police, according to senior officials in the Presidency and police hierarchy who confirmed the development to Punch newspaper.
The Police Council meeting represents a constitutional requirement for the permanent appointment of the nation's top law enforcement official. Disu has been serving in an acting capacity following his predecessor's tenure.
APC Defends Growing Defection Trend
The All Progressives Congress has defended the recent influx of opposition politicians into its ranks, with National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda attributing the trend to "superior party management and governance" rather than political inducements. Speaking at the Citizens' Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act on Sunday, Yilwatda dismissed concerns about the growing number of defections.
"They discovered other parties are dying," Yilwatda stated, according to Naija News, framing the defections as a natural consequence of the APC's political dominance and governance record.
Tinubu's Popularity Factor
Dr. Salihu Girei, a founding member of the APC in Adamawa State, rejected allegations that President Tinubu was actively luring governors into the party. Speaking to The Nation Newspaper, Girei instead credited the President's popularity as the driving force behind the defections, suggesting that political figures are gravitating toward the ruling party based on perceived public support for Tinubu's administration.
The wave of defections has raised questions about opposition party cohesion ahead of future electoral cycles. Nigeria's political landscape has historically witnessed significant party-switching, particularly as politicians align themselves with parties perceived to have greater electoral prospects or access to federal patronage.
The Police Council meeting and ongoing political realignments occur against a backdrop of preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the APC seeking to consolidate its position as Nigeria's dominant political force across multiple states and regions.