Defections involving high-profile elective and appointive political figures from one party platform to another have not only reached a crescendo but also heightened the anxiety that the country is on a trajectory of becoming a one-party state.

Across the six geopolitical zones, it is perhaps only a few notable politicians who are still left behind among the ever-increasing number of political leaders desperately jostling to be part of the movement, which is more of an attestation of their anxiousness to remain relevant in politics.

It was observed that in every consideration, the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be the biggest beneficiary of the current endless defections dominating the Nigerian political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.

Daily Sun recalls that defections, especially into the ruling party, have always been part of previous political dispensations, even in more developed and advanced democracies.

But never in the history of Nigeria’s democracy did defections become this massive and strategic, two years to major elections, like it is currently happening.

For instance, since the beginning of this year alone, the ruling APC has harvested big names from the opposition parties.

The long list of defectors, especially the state governors, includes Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori; Akwa-Ibom, Umo Eno; Enugu, Peter Mbah; Bayelsa, Douye Diri; and Taraba, Agbu Kefas, with many others rumoured to be planning to join the moving train.

The current wave of defections is even more noticeable at the National Assembly, where the APC-led principal officers in both chambers are usually engrossed with celebrating an overwhelming majority after losing count of members who have jumped from the opposition parties.

Consistently, the defectors would claim the usual slogan of ideological breach by their former parties and the imperativeness of connecting the state to the centre to attract federal government presence as reasons for their actions.

For instance, defending the decision to join the APC, Governor Mbah had noted that: “This is no whimsical decision. It is a collective move by the political family in Enugu State. For nearly three decades, the PDP and the people of Enugu have walked side by side, united by shared purpose. Together, we built relationships that will always matter to me personally and to this state.

“Over the past months, I have thought carefully about the path forward. In the end, after much soul searching and discussion, I have concluded that we must stand for the principles and institutions that honour transparency, trust and, above all, the people we serve.

For decades, the South East, especially Enugu, has stood firmly behind the PDP, showing loyalty that shaped the party’s success. Yet despite this history, our voices were too often disregarded when it mattered most. It has, therefore, become necessary to seek affiliation where our interests as a region are represented in the form of fair partnership,” he said.

The ones adduced by his counterpart in Delta were that “It is a movement; it is not a defection. After extensive consultations, we unanimously agreed that Delta must join the APC. Our state cannot afford to remain in opposition after more than 10 years.”

Regardless of the reasons they give to justify their defection ahead of the 2027 general election, what is incontrovertible is that the PDP is the worst hit, having lost several serving state governors, its 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, among other prominent party members, to the ADC and APC, respectively.

Perhaps, the planned defection of the Bayelsa governor may possibly destabilize the state if Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the deputy governor, actualizes his threats to remain with the PDP instead of following his boss, Diri, to defect to the APC.

For those who think the governors should lose their seats for defecting, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, (SAN), noted that not even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the constitutional authority to declare the seat of any governor vacant on account of defection from one political party to another.

He further cited the Supreme Court judgment in Atiku v. Attorney-General of the Federation, when it ruled that the constitutional provision on loss of seat due to defection applies only to legislators.

“Here we are in 2025, still wasting time on what the Supreme Court has already settled. There is no provision in the Constitution allowing the removal of a governor because he changed party. A governor can defect 50 times, and there will still be no legal basis to declare his seat vacant,” he noted.

But miffed by the trend, the helpless PDP can only furiously blame it on “greed, avarice, and selfishness, arguing that: “You can’t find any compelling reason for a governor, especially one in their second term, abandoning the party that brought him to power, other than covetousness.

“It is APC versus Nigerians now. Let them do what they will, we have seen worse before,” PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, lamented in condemnation of the growing trend of defections.

Most pundits seem to agree that defections have since become a window shopping and strong instruments incumbent presidents advantageously deploy to guarantee and secure second-term tickets, using the governors to manipulate the electoral process at their state, local government down to the ward levels.

For example, some of the recent strategic defections, involving especially Bayelsa, Enugu, which increased APC states, and possibly the planned defection of Adamawa, are viewed as ploys to weaken the political base of gladiators like Goodluck Jonathan, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar, the frontline aspirants planning to square up with the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu.

But, notwithstanding the backlashes, the ruling party has become even merciless in attracting high-profile members of the opposition into its fold.

Speaking separately, its national chairman, Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and chieftain, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, while taunting the opposition parties, warned them to sign for the APC while the transfer window is still open.

While disclosing that notable figures from the opposition coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) will be joining APC next week, Yilwatda told the party’s stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State, that: “Next week, I will be receiving some notable figures from the ADC. Some of those who had defected from the PDP and joined the ADC are now returning to the APC.

“Many of them have completed their medicals and will be officially unveiled next week. In another two weeks, we will unveil yet another big figure that just finished his own medical,” he sarcastically remarked.

Keyamo was even more sardonic in what looked like pouring fuel on an already ignited fire, as he cajoled the members of the opposition parties, specifically the PDP and ADC, saying that: “This transfer window is still open, but it might close sooner than expected. So, I encourage the opposition party members to join us before it is too late so we can sail the ship of Nigeria together.”

Naturally, the trend and mocking comments have drawn resentment, bitterness, and commendations from many political figures like the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, former president of the senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, among many others.

While Peter Obi and Makinde argued that the defections would never translate into any tangible victory for the APC in the 2027 presidential election, Nnamani described the defection, particularly that of Governor Mbah, as a commendable, worthy strategy to unite the South-East politically and foster regional development.

Obi, while frowning at the defection of Enugu State Governor, noted that: “The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators; no party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor. Mbah is a good friend of mine. And I believe that as governor, he must have made his decision based on his own political views and calculations.

“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. As a leader, you do the right things for them to follow you. I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere. The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” Obi argued.

In his reactions, Makinde lamented that the nation has remained fixated on political manoeuvring and cross-carpeting at the detriment of families battling real-life challenges that demand urgent attention.

“Everyone is talking about which politician is switching parties, but what about hunger? When will it switch sides and leave the people alone?” Makinde asked, noting that the media frenzy around recent high-profile defections, especially PDP governors moving to the APC, is missing the point.

“Political analysts are busy dissecting handshakes and silences. But I will be impressed when hunger defects to the APC,” Makinde said, warning that the growing inequality and economic despair in Nigeria pose a far greater threat than party politics. “Hunger, not political affiliation, is what fuels hopelessness and anger. That is what we need to defeat,” he said.

On the flipside, however, Senator Nnamani, while arguing that South-East remains the only geopolitical zone governed by four different political parties, described it as balkanization that hindered regional cooperation and progress.

“In the six geopolitical zones, it is only the South-East where four parties are ruling five states. That is balkanization. It makes collaboration and cooperation very difficult. We are now trying to narrow it down to a party or two so that our people can cooperate.

“There are things we can do as a team that we cannot do as individuals. So, if you hear that Enugu has joined the ruling party, there is a reason for that,” he said.

Although APC has not beaten the PDP record on the number of states under its control, its former Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, while warning his party, expressed fears and reservations on the competence of its leaders to manage the impending clash of interests, which might result in implosion, during the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Recall that APC now controls 25 states against the 28 states formally held by the PDP. Weighing in on the defections, Nabena told Daily Sun in a chat that the situation will not only be counterproductive but may also be APC’s greatest undoing in the 2027 general elections.

He said, “One thing many don’t understand about politics is that the party will be engulfed in crisis when those who defected will jostle for tickets with the original loyal members of the party during the primaries. Those coming from the PDP believe that they are on ground just like those in the APC. At the end, when the factions fight dirty, the opposition parties will be the beneficiaries,” Nabena said.

Asked whether the exodus may not translate into a tangible favourable election result for the APC, Nabena replied: “It will definitely not translate to victory in some states. As I asked earlier, we need to verify what is after those governors defecting. As I said, they may end up destabilizing our party when those denied automatic tickets will leave to seek an alternative platform elsewhere,” the former APC spokesperson argued. (The Sun)