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In a surprising turn of events, Daniel Bwala, a prominent figure within the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), declared his commitment to supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu, even suggesting the possibility of defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
After a closed-door meeting with President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, Bwala told State House correspondents, “I told him today, I am committing to play my part to support your administration, and I have no apologies to anybody.” When asked about the potential of defecting to the APC, he responded, “APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation; if supporting him will take me to APC, so be it.”
This unexpected announcement comes just days after Bwala, a known critic of the APC and Tinubu’s administration, advocated for a strong coalition of opposition parties to challenge the governing party in the 2027 general elections. During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on January 2, 2024, he emphasized the need for opposition unity to prevent President Tinubu from spending eight years in office.
Bwala acknowledged President Tinubu’s recent decisions, including the suspension of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu. He commended Tinubu for addressing reported infractions by ministers and emphasized the importance of policies that prioritize the interests of the people.
Referring to the President’s announcement of a 60% reduction in travel entourages for the Presidency and Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Bwala remarked, “There has been this outcry that the government is bloated. Yesterday, he introduced a policy that reduced the cost of governance, and today, he told me it is just the beginning.”
Bwala revealed that President Tinubu assured him of more cost-cutting measures to further reduce the overall cost of governance. Despite his affiliation with the PDP, Bwala emphasized that his support for President Tinubu’s administration is driven by policy considerations rather than party loyalty, stating, “This is not about a political party.”
