Democracy of Defection As Governors, NASS Members, Party Stalwarts, Others Cross Carpet
Judex OKORO
Democracy of Defection As Governors, Senators, Reps, Others Cross Carpet
Nigeria democracy is indeed a fledging one. Since the inception of Fourth Republics our democracy has witnessed twists and turns. The political class has turned politics to a game of chess. Like chess, our politics is turning into a two-player strategy game with ultimate goal of capturing opponent’s king.
And like the game of chess, our political system is gravitating towards a two man politicking- the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People Democratic Party (PDP), with fear of ending up a one-man (party) game ahead of 2027 general elections.
In our usual characteristics manner, the political space is awash with intrigues, defection or cross carpeting, as the case maybe, all aimed at capturing power or being among the power brokers. The game players are crisscrossing the length and breadth of their constituencies re-strategising on how to outwit opponents or possibly poach big players. Nobody wants to back the wrong horse. Thus, the defection and counter defection from one party to another.
Across the length and breadth of the states, defection is happening like a tsunami. Like a seismic sea wave, opposition elected governors, state lawmakers, council chairmen, political appointees and party heavy weights are dumping the platform that brought to political limelight. Like a fish doped out of water, they jumping sheep at any slightest chance perhaps to secure their ticket ahead of 2017.
The defectors tell old tales of how their party are enmeshed in political crisis. How the “new-found-party” have been doing marvelously well and have been delivering dividends of democracy. To the new defectors, the old political husband was a “mistake sort of”, at times describing the former party as a “sinking ship.”
Furthermore, while some of the defectors have cited internal wrangling in their parties, others said they joined the APC to be part of a government that “delivers dividend of democracy” to the people. Also, there are claims in some quarters that some of the defectors who joined the APC were promised automatic tickets. Everybody wants a piece of the national cake.
NASS members’ defection galore
Checks by THE BEAGLE NEWS showed that with the recent defections from the opposition parties to All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party is leading in the Senate with 68 senators out of 109 members and over 200 in the 360-member House of Representatives. The state lawmakers are not left out as the House of Assembly that were predominantly PDP are being dominated by APC as seen in Cross River, Edo and Delta states. Also, there has been influx of opposition leaders into the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governors that dumped platform that brought them to power
Further checks revealed that, over the years, about eight Governors have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) while still in office. Their defection marks a major political shift in Akwa Ibom State and could significantly alter the state’s political landscape ahead of future elections. They include Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who defected on Friday, June 6, 2025. He made the announcement during a formal ceremony held at the Government House in Uyo. The event attracted prominent APC figures from across the country. Speaking at the event, Governor Eno said, “After completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant whom you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the APC. We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength. We’re bringing value to Akwa Ibom State. We’ve come into the APC with a ministry of reconciliation.”
Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State) also shocked many by dumping the PDP for the APC on Monday, April 28, 2025. His defection marks a significant political shift in Delta, a core PDP state since 1999. Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State defected to APC in November 2020 during his second term as Governor. He cited marginalisation of the South-East by the PDP and praised APC’s infrastructure focus under President Buhari.
Prof. Ben Ayade of Cross River state crossed over to APC in May 20, 2021. He said his decision was driven by a desire to align with the federal government to attract more development projects to Cross River State while Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State defected to APC in June 2021. His move followed political turbulence in Zamfara and was seen as a strategic alliance to maintain stability and control.
While Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State switched from PDP to APC ahead of the 2015 elections, and returned to PDP in 2018 and was later linked with a fresh move back to APC while still in office, reflecting his dynamic political positioning, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State joined the APC in 2014 during his tenure as Governor. He was among the early defectors whose moves helped shape the APC’s victory in the 2015 general elections.
Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state as Governor from 2011 to 2019, defected to APC in 2014 with Bukola Saraki during the famous “political tsunami” in Kwara and later returned to PDP later, the defection during his tenure was pivotal.
Another PDP Governor set to defect
In furtherance of what APC chieftain described as “operation capture the entire Southern Nigeria ahead of 2027, Bayelsa Gov, Diri, is set to defect t the ruling party anytime soon. Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu gave the hint while addressing journalists following the official reception of Akwa Ibom State Governor Otu expressed optimism that the political landscape of the South-South region will continue to evolve, hinting that Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, may soon join the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying "Governor Diri is my chairman in the South-South Governors’ Forum. I’m confident he won’t stand alone for long,"
