The defection of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last Tuesday made President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declare that Ndigbo have, at last, joined the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics. Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said that before now, the South-east zone was on the margins, but with the defection of the governor into the APC, Ndigbo have been launched into the mainstream politics of Nigeria.
Welcoming Governor Mbah to the APC fold, the president declared: “Today is a great day in our great nation; indeed, a great day in Ndigbo. Sadly, in the last 10 to 12 years, Ndigbo, one of the most vibrant tribes in Africa, have been in the margins of Nigeria’s politics. Now, with the coming of Governor Peter Mbah; with the continuous energy being exhibited by Governor Hope Uzodimma and Governor Francis Nwifuru, I believe the Ndigbo have come to the mainstream of Nigeria’s politics”.
Less than one and half years to the next elections, Nigeria has of late been witnessing a gale of defections, with party members, mostly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decamping to the ruling party. Due to these defections, the PDP which used to be a strong opposition platform has been left with just eight states, while speculations are rife that some PDP governors are on their way to the APC.
The fear that the end of these defections is far from being over was recently expressed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris. He revealed that before the 2027 elections, the ruling party was set to control no fewer than 30 states. With politicians in other parties presently engaged in negotiating their terms of defections to the APC, the fear of a one-party state is ripping across the nooks and crannies of the country, sparking fears of unnecessary anxieties as power-seeking politicians fall over one another to decamp to the APC in order to salvage what is left of their political career. Current defections of politicians are not a reflection of love but that of a morbid fear to be defeated in the next elections. Some other factors necessitating defections may include economic motivations and the fear of prosecution. Therefore, it is obvious that defectors are more driven by the desire for personal gain than aligning on the basis of ideological differences.
Closely tied to the above is the lack of ideological commitment. Some parties are perceived as lacking clear ideological foundations, leading members to switch their loyalty based on personal ambition or incentives rather than conviction. The relevance of patronage networks clearly shows that decisions to defect are influenced by patron-client relationships, where politicians are susceptible to switching allegiances to benefit from the new government’s policies, contracts, or appointments.
No doubt, economic motivation; financial incentives, often described as the evil influence of money, can play a significant role in swinging loyalty among politicians. Politicians may defect to any party in order to avoid legal or investigative action from a new government. A politician’s personal ambition can drive them to switch parties if they feel their opportunities for advancement are limited in their current one.
The quest for power is as old as power itself. In a country where politics is propelled by greed and the intense desire for power, defection is often deployed as a strategy to gain more power, resources, or a better position. The fight for the control of party structure may continue to impede or mar transparency in the selection of candidates. Beyond the above enumerated reasons that account for defections, the absence of ideological foundations has led to politicians switching parties at the slightest provocation to embark on such defections. Against the backdrop of a storm of defections, it is needful to tighten the noose around politicians who are willing to deploy the weapon of defection to embark on self-seeking ventures in a bid to salvage their weaning political career.
Democracy can only thrive when there’s an effective opposition. Defections to the ruling party weaken the ballot. The government and opposition elements play crucial roles in advancing the tenets of democracy. Blueprint calls on the National Assembly to review the relevant laws to make defections difficult in order to protect democracy from the threat of defectors who are only interested in getting stronger political platforms to win the next elections.
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