Former Senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce, has officially announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The businessman and media entrepreneur made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, explaining that his decision was driven not by politics, but by a desire for national progress and development.

Murray-Bruce cited the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the major influence behind his move, commending the president’s reforms and describing them as necessary steps toward rebuilding Nigeria’s economy and governance.

According to him, the challenges Nigerians are currently facing as a result of government reforms are temporary pains that will eventually produce long-term prosperity.

“I have known President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 1998. I know the man’s mind, his courage, and his conviction. He is not driven by applause, he is driven by results. And today, I can boldly say to you that he is on the right track,”
— Ben Murray-Bruce said.

The former lawmaker praised Tinubu for his economic understanding, saying the President sees the economy “not as a political slogan, but as a living organism that must be disciplined, deregulated, and allowed to breathe.”

He lauded the administration’s economic and security reforms, noting improvements in monetary policy, national security architecture, and foreign relations.

“The painful reforms we face today are the very foundation of tomorrow’s prosperity. We are moving into a free-market economy, one that rewards hard work and innovation instead of dependency and distortion,” he added.

Murray-Bruce also applauded the Tinubu administration’s infrastructural drive, highlighting massive projects in roads, ports, airports, and housing, which he described as “the arteries through which growth and opportunity now flow.”

While acknowledging the economic hardship many Nigerians are facing, he emphasized that such sacrifices are often necessary for national rebirth.

“That is why today, I am joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), not for politics, but for progress. Because I believe that Bola Tinubu’s leadership, guided by courage and intellect, will deliver the Nigeria we have all dreamed of.”

Concluding his statement, the former senator predicted that under Tinubu’s full eight-year tenure, Nigeria would witness phenomenal growth, reaffirming his belief in the President’s reform-driven vision.

“I choose to stand with that vision. I choose to stand with reform. I choose to stand with the future. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said.