By Mary Onyia
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Balarabe Akinwumi, has criticised the recent wave of defections by some opposition governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the trend as a desperate attempt to seek political protection rather than serve the people.
Akinwumi, a former House of Representatives aspirant and ex-aide to former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko, said the defectors are more interested in shielding themselves from accountability than delivering good governance.
“The defections reflect deep insecurity and a lack of confidence in their own parties,” he stated. “These governors know what they are running from. As Adams Oshiomhole once said, when you join the APC, your sins are forgiven.”
The lawyer and oil and gas expert warned that the ongoing political realignments threaten Nigeria’s democracy, urging citizens to remain vigilant amid worsening insecurity, hunger, and poverty.
He also reiterated the need for a broad national coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027, insisting that only a united political front can challenge the dominance of the ruling APC.
Akinwumi’s comments come at a time when prominent elder statesmen and civil society leaders—under the aegis of The Patriots and led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku—have renewed calls for urgent constitutional reform.
The group recently proposed a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, arguing that the country cannot make meaningful progress without a more equitable federal system that reflects its diversity and promotes true accountability.
Analysts say both the rising rate of political defections and the deepening socio-economic crisis highlight the urgent need to revisit the constitutional framework and reposition Nigeria on the path of stability, justice, and sustainable development.
Recall that defections have long been a staple of Nigeria’s political landscape, often driven by self-preservation rather than ideology. The First Republic saw party switches as alliances shifted regionally, while the Second Republic collapsed partly under the weight of political cross-carpeting.
In the Fourth Republic, which began in 1999, defections became routine. Notably, in 2014, five PDP governors famously defected to the newly formed APC, contributing to the party’s victory in the 2015 general elections. The trend has persisted, with politicians frequently switching allegiance to align with the party at the centre—often to avoid prosecution or maintain relevance.
Political pundits believe that weak party ideology and lack of internal democracy continue to fuel the defection culture, making political loyalty transactional and undermining accountability.
With additional reports from the Guardian Newspaper