The recent spate of defections by opposition lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is an unsettling betrayal of democratic principles and a blatant disregard for the will of the electorate. With six lawmakers abandoning their parties for the APC, including Alfred Ajang of the Labor Party (LP), the trend underscores a troubling pattern: politicians prioritizing personal gain and political expediency over integrity and accountability. These defections reveal an alarming culture of political prostitution and pose a grave threat to democratic governance with dire consequences. They undermine democracy by invalidating the choices made by voters, who vote for parties based on manifestos and ideologies, not individuals who later switch allegiances for personal gain. By defecting, lawmakers essentially steal a mandate that belongs to their party and the people who elected them. The practice is brazen political treachery. Nigeria cannot afford this descent into authoritarianism masked by the veneer of democracy.
Before House Reps adjourned for the Christmas holiday, six lawmakers defected from their respective political parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The most recent defector was Alfred Ajang of the Labor Party, representing the Jos South/East Federal Constituency of Plateau State. Before Ajang’s defection, Dalyop Chollom (Barkin Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency of Plateau), Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency of Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Constituency), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency of Edo) all defected to the APC. Also, Erthiatake Ibori-Suenu, Delta State, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Reading Ajang’s defection letter on the floor of the House during plenary, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, stated that his decision was due to the crisis within the LP. Immediately, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) and members of his minority caucus challenged the defection, asking Abbas to declare the seat of the defected opposition lawmaker vacant in line with Section 68(1) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended). They also argued that there was no crisis within the LP to justify the defection. Particularly, Chinda cited a standing order by the House that any member who intends to defect must first inform his constituents, and since Ajang could not show such proof, his resignation should be rejected. Despite the protests, Abbas, as usual, overruled Chinda’s objection.
Defections justified by vague claims of “party crises” mock both the spirit and the letter of the Nigerian Constitution. Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that a lawmaker must vacate their seat upon switching parties unless there is a division within the party that makes its continued existence impossible. In Ajang’s case, as aptly pointed out by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, no such division exists within the Labor Party. Despite a clear constitutional mandate, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, acting with partisan loyalty rather than adherence to the rule of law, dismissed objections and allowed Ajang’s defection to stand. This is not an isolated incident. The defection of prominent lawmakers such as Godswill Akpabio from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC and Femi Fani-Kayode’s high-profile switch from a vocal critic of the APC to joining it highlight a disturbing pattern. These betrayals have emboldened the ruling party to consolidate power through undemocratic means. Each defection sends a clear message: loyalty to political survival trumps fidelity to democratic principles.
The judiciary has spoken clearly on this matter. In the landmark case of Ifedayo Abegunde vs Ondo State House of Assembly, the Supreme Court ruled that defections must be justified by insurmountable and genuine divisions within a party, not fabricated crises conveniently engineered for political expediency. Creating crises in localized chapters to justify defections is both disingenuous and illegal. Yet, political elites blatantly flout this ruling, exploiting defections to circumvent the electorate’s will. What makes this practice even more reprehensible is the complicity of legislative leaders like Speaker Abbas, who benefit from the erosion of opposition voices in parliament. His actions confirm the popular assertion that defections are encouraged by presiding officers and governors to consolidate undemocratic control and kill opposition parties.
This brazen disregard for constitutional provisions by legislative leaders is symptomatic of a broader crisis – one where political actors treat democratic institutions as personal fiefdoms. They foster a political environment where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, accountability is eroded, and democratic competition is stifled. What makes these defections even more appalling is the cynical manner in which they undermine the electorate’s choice. The Labor Party’s historic gains in the 2023 elections signaled a desire for political change. Peter Obi’s remarkable third-place finish and the LP’s success in securing Senate and House seats were seen as the dawn of a “Third Force” in Nigerian politics. However, instead of consolidating these gains, political opportunism and internal disputes within the LP have paved the way for defections that betray voters who yearned for accountability and good governance.
The actions of Speaker Abbas and the defecting lawmakers exemplify the corruption of democratic values. Allowing a party rejected at the polls to regain influence through the backdoor of defections is morally indefensible and legally dubious. This practice turns democracy on its head, making a mockery of the electorate’s will while empowering political elites to manipulate outcomes. Defections undermine not only the stability of opposition parties but also the very essence of representative democracy. It is time for Nigerians to demand accountability. The Nigerian Constitution, under Sections 68(2) and 109(2), empowers the Presidents of the Senate and Speakers of the legislative houses to declare the seats of defectors vacant. Their failure to do so further emboldens lawlessness, erodes public trust in democratic institutions, and undermines the very foundations of democracy.
Moreover, political parties must strengthen internal mechanisms to resolve disputes and maintain cohesion and unity. The Labor Party’s leadership crisis, which saw conflicting factions led by Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa, is a cautionary tale of how internal disarray can sabotage political gains. The crisis has weakened the party and opened the door for defections. However, these internal challenges do not justify the betrayal of voters’ trust. Nigerian democracy can ill afford a weakened opposition at a time when robust debate and accountability are needed more than ever.
Ultimately, defections are a symptom of a deeper malaise – a political culture that prizes self-interest over service to the people. It is a culture that must be confronted and dismantled if Nigeria is to fulfill its democratic potential. The electorate must remain vigilant, demand adherence to constitutional provisions, and hold defecting lawmakers accountable. The electorate must remain vigilant and demand accountability. Defecting lawmakers must be compelled to seek fresh mandates from their constituents. Nigerians deserve leaders who respect the sanctity of their mandate. The ongoing assault on democratic norms through opportunistic defections is a betrayal that must be condemned in the strongest terms. It is time for the people to reclaim their power and hold these political turncoats accountable. Nigeria deserves leaders who honor their commitments and respect the sanctity of the people’s mandate. Anything less is an affront to democracy and a disservice to the nation.
