2027: APC, opposition differ on calls to end defections

As the country inches closer to 2025, with just two years remaining before the 2027 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Young Progressives Party, and the Coalition for United Political Parties have called for legislation to prohibit political defection.

They also reassured the public that the opposition parties would unite to form a formidable front capable of effectively challenging the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to ensure Nigerians received the best possible leadership and governance.

This was as the ruling APC chided the opposition parties over the call for a bill to halt the random defection of politicians from their parties to other political platforms.

The APC argued that the constitution had granted politicians the privilege to switch allegiance.

Political defection has become a common trend in Nigeria, with politicians switching parties at will.

On December 5, four lawmakers from the LP and one from the PDP defected to the ruling APC.

The LP lawmakers who switched parties are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Federal Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Cross River), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo).

A few days later, on December 12, Ajang Iliya, the House of Representatives member representing the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, also defected from the LP to the APC.

Over a year ago, 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, left the PDP for the APC.

This mass defection caused political instability in Rivers State, triggering multiple legal battles.

The growing trend of defection has raised concerns about the stability and integrity of party politics in Nigeria.

Before these recent defections, a significant number of politicians, mainly from opposition parties, had already switched allegiance to the ruling party.

This trend has been seen as a reflection of the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of Nigeria’s political landscape.

Just recently, several lawmakers left their previous parties—such as the PDP, NNPP, and LP—and joined the ruling APC, offering various political justifications for their decisions.

The pattern of defection has raised concerns about the stability and integrity of party politics in the country.

In response, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, stated that political defections posed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Osadolor, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, lamented that many Nigerian politicians lacked principles and had defected primarily for economic survival rather than for the benefit of the people.

He said, “This government is very adept, very skillful in regime security. In doing all this, they have weaponised not only hunger but also destabilised institutions that should have been able to enforce checks and balances.

“The man has so firmly placed iron fists on all the institutions in this country that you don’t even have an institution or an opposition.

“So, when you see these defections in the National Assembly or state Assemblies, you will just know it is all about economic survival. Most of those you see jumping from one party to another lack principles.

“This is a threat to democracy. To curb this reckless defection, I think there is an urgent need to review some of our laws to nip this in the bud.”

Osadolor expressed optimism that as long as President Bola Tinubu did not have control over the air Nigerians breathe, there would be strong opposition in 2025 and beyond to challenge the APC government.

He stated, “As long as the air we breathe does not come from President Tinubu, the opposition parties will remain united and more formidable in challenging the APC. Therefore, Nigerians still have hope and will wait patiently to cast their votes.”

Also speaking, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, expressed concern that the defections signalled the erosion of democracy in Nigeria.

Speaking with our correspondent, he called for a thorough review of Nigerian laws to address political defections.

He stated, “What it shows is that democracy is eroding. It is now becoming, ‘Well, if I can settle myself, then things are fine.’ A lot of the politicians are no longer representing the people; they are no longer representing their constituents; they are representing themselves.

“So, we need to look at our laws to checkmate this and do a lot to uphold our democracy to make sure they give a voice to the voiceless and try to maintain democratic structures to bring about good governance for the benefit of the people of the country.”

Similarly, the YPP National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, cautioned that defections could result in a one-party state, which in turn could lead to dictatorship.

In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Martins emphasised that the ongoing electoral reform must take a strong stance against defections and ensure that there must be no ambiguities.

He stated, “We can tell that things have been going from bad to worse. Democracy should not benefit only a few; it should be for the benefit of everyone. You can see the unrest in neighbouring countries that led to military takeovers because the people do not see any benefit from democracy.

“I think the political class should not allow democracy to deteriorate in this manner. There should be a law to prevent political defections, and politics and political associations should be based on principles.”

“In fact, the government should make it a matter of policy. They must deliberate on this to sustain a strong opposition. We should not allow people to move from one party to another, as it could lead to a one-party state, which in the long run, would not bode well for the nation.”

“A one-party state is essentially a dictatorship. Therefore, there is a need to review our laws. There should be a deliberate effort to ensure that laws are in place to discourage the movement from one party to another, particularly to the ruling party.”

The YPP Publicity Secretary stated that a one-party state was harmful to Nigeria and emphasised that the political class must act to prevent disillusionment, ensuring Nigerians continued to value democracy.

He added, “This is not even healthy for the ruling party. That is why, based on some of the proposals we have submitted as a party, we believe that the ongoing electoral reform should make it difficult for individuals to cross from the party on whose platform they won elections to another party. The legislation should be unambiguous.

“Once you leave your party and join another, you should automatically lose your seat. There should be no exceptions, such as in cases where there is a crisis in the party. No!

“Look at the PDP as an opposition party; it is struggling, and that should have been the face of a strong opposition in Nigeria. But it is not, because the laws are too weak to address the political class manipulations.

“We believe the ruling government should ensure that these laws are enforced. The political class needs to play its role to prevent the point where Nigerians become disillusioned and feel they no longer need democracy.”

The CUPP spokesperson, Mark Adebayo, explained that many defectors did so out of fear of persecution.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, he stated that most of the defectors would regret their actions in 2027 when the APC would be defeated.

Adebayo stated, “On the defection by lawmakers, it just shows you the policies of stomach infrastructure that Nigerian democracy is all about. All these are politicians who believe in stomach infrastructure.

“They are defecting because they cannot ensure a robust opposition political party. They believe that joining the APC may protect them from future prosecution by anti-graft agencies, especially the EFCC and ICPC.

“They are also under the mistaken impression that the power of incumbency will help them win elections. But I can assure you that the APC has performed so poorly that in 2027, the opposition will give them a run for their money.”

APC kicks

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said it was obvious the campaign was being fuelled by the frustration of losing their bigwigs to the ruling party.

He said, “I think that legislation is ill-proposed because the legislation permits freedom of movement. There should be freedom to make up and change one’s mind at will without interference from anybody.

“The opposition is making this proposal out of frustration because they were not able to manage their affairs. As a result, there is an exodus to the ruling party. However, that is not to say they can’t take their motion to the National Assembly, which will deliberate in the interest of the country if it deems it fit.

“But I can tell you with certainty that it is going to be dead on arrival. You cannot deny politicians the right to jump ships. They can move from one party to the other. It is like marriage and divorce. One is at liberty to marry provided the two agree and is also a liberty to divorce once they disagree.

“So, if you are in a party and not getting what you want or feel the party cannot meet your aspiration, the constitution has given you the provision and permission to cross over to where you will achieve your aim. That is my personal opinion.”

CSOs speak

Lending his voice to the matter, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, attributed the defection of politicians to the ruling party to lack of transparency and accountability in governance.

He lamented that Nigerian politics was driven by selfish interests, describing it as a pursuit of “stomach infrastructure.”

Rafsanjani emphasised that while politicians had the right to defect to any political party, there was the need for political party reforms to ensure that parties were not used merely as tools for power grabbing and personal agendas but as platforms to foster internal democracy and active participation.

“There are legitimate reasons for leaving a party. If one no longer subscribes to the party’s principles, they cannot be compelled to remain. However, we must reform political parties so they will cease to be platforms for personal gains and power plays.”

Also, the Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Jackson Omenazu, described the current political situation as a breach of public trust, tarnishing Nigeria’s image globally.

He warned that unchecked defections could lead to a one-party system, eroding democracy.

Omenazu noted that politicians were bound by the manifestos of the parties under which they were elected, arguing that if they aligned with another manifesto, they should resign and seek re-election under the new platform.

He added that defection without returning to the electorate violated public trust and undermined democracy.

“The right thing to do is to go back with a new-found manifesto to the people and present it to them. The defector as a lawmaker should resign from his or her position, go back to his people and present a new manifesto. If the people elect you based on the new manifesto, you go back to the National Assembly.

“If they don’t elect you, you remain at home. But it’s a complete breach of public trust for you to take another manifesto and get into the National Assembly, find favour in another manifesto, and without recourse to the people, defect.

“Systematically, we are heading towards a one-party state, and it is not good for democracy. A good opposition is the strength of democracy and where there is no opposition, there is no democracy.”