Former presidential adviser and ex-member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of inducing the defection of key opposition figures through financial inducements and intimidation tactics.
Speaking in a televised interview on Arise TV on Thursday, Bugaje raised concerns about what he described as the increasing monetisation of Nigerian politics, warning that it poses a significant threat to the country’s democratic foundations.
“For what I know—and I don’t claim to know everything—the APC is basically using money to buy off the PDP,” Bugaje stated, referring to the Peoples Democratic Party, the country’s main opposition party.
He further alleged that, beyond financial incentives, some individuals facing investigations may be coerced through threats, particularly those with pending cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Of course, if there are people with records in the EFCC, they might threaten them. They might do these kinds of things, and this has been the practice right from the time of President Obasanjo,” he said.
Bugaje cautioned that if political allegiance continues to be dictated by money, Nigeria risks losing the essence of democratic governance.
“For as long as money is going to be the determining factor, then that’s the end of democracy and that’s the end of politics. We would be heading towards something completely different, maybe on the path of Peru and Fujimori,” he warned.
His comments come in the wake of recent mass defections from the PDP in Delta State. Responding to the defections, PDP’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, acknowledged the wave of departures but maintained that the party remains ready to challenge the APC in future elections.
Bugaje, however, dismissed the PDP’s response as feeble, arguing that the party had lost its credibility and effectiveness as an opposition force, especially following the controversial role played by Minister Nyesom Wike in past internal conflicts.
“There has not been opposition right from the time Minister Wike did what he did. PDP has lost that opportunity to become an opposition party,” Bugaje said.
He also criticised PDP lawmakers for failing to take principled stands during critical national issues such as emergency rule debates and budget approvals, accusing them of dereliction of duty.
Reflecting on his own political journey, Bugaje recounted his involvement in the formation of the APC, revealing that internal resistance had blocked his efforts to introduce merit-based leadership within the party.
“We should develop criteria for people who are going to hold responsibilities of the party. They all opposed it, except a few of us,” he said, lamenting that personal ambition often trumps institutional development.
He decried what he described as the dominance of transactional politics in both major parties, where positions and loyalties are exchanged for monetary gains or influence.
“People who don’t have the character to hold a party, people who don’t have sufficient education to understand the implication of some of the things they do—these are the people now in charge,” Bugaje said.
Concluding the interview, Bugaje reaffirmed his long-standing opposition to these practices and expressed hope that parties could be reformed through principled leadership.
“I fought this as much as I could. I pulled back when I realised that, but I made my point. If you have people who are qualified, who have character, who have got the passion for the party, you can be sure of one thing: that party is going to remain intact,” he stated.
