The Nigerian political space has, in recent times, continued to experience a whirlwind of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This wave, cutting across the federal and state levels, paints a troubling picture of a political system where parties are seen less as ideological platforms and more as stepping stones to power.
From the National Assembly, where Hon. Jallo Hussaini Mohammed (Kaduna State), Hon. Adamu Tanko (Niger State), and Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Imo East Senatorial District) have all decamped to the APC, to state assemblies, the trend is unsettling. In Edo State, four lawmakers, including Hon. Ojiezele Osezua Sunday (Esan South-East Constituency), have crossed over. Similarly, in Ebonyi State, Chief Anayo Edwin Nwonu and Hon. Chikodiri Nomeh have also made the switch.
Defections are not limited to individuals. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) recently lost Engr. Yusuf Buhari and Bala Mohammed Gwagwarwa to the APC. Even more significantly, in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and other erstwhile PDP leaders have shifted allegiance to the APC.
Whispers from Akwa Ibom State also suggest that Governor Umo Eno may be considering a move to the APC. With Cross River already under APC control, and Rivers State in political flux, the South-South—a region once considered a PDP stronghold—appears to be gradually tilting toward the ruling party.
At the heart of this political nomadism lies a fundamental issue: the absence of party ideology and the lack of loyalty to political principles. In mature democracies, political parties are guided by firm ideological commitments—whether conservative, liberal, or socialist. In Nigeria, however, the lines are blurred. Political parties function less as vehicles for policy ideas and more as platforms for power acquisition.
This ideological void has far-reaching implications. It undermines voter confidence, as constituents who elect candidates based on party manifestos find themselves betrayed when those officials switch parties. It also weakens the opposition, disrupts governance, and fuels political instability.
The root of the problem is largely opportunistic. Many defections are driven by personal ambition—politicians seeking survival after losing out in primaries or falling out with party leaders find refuge in the ruling party, where opportunities for appointments and electoral success are more promising.
To curb this trend, electoral reforms must focus on strengthening internal party democracy and enforcing consequences for indiscriminate defections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must hold parties accountable, while the judiciary should act decisively to uphold the sanctity of electoral mandates.
Above all, the Nigerian electorate must demand greater integrity, consistency, and ideological clarity from their leaders. Until then, party-switching will remain the norm, and the dream of a stable, ideology-driven democracy will continue to elude the nation.
Ubong Usoro for Nigeria Magazine
