Lofty promises allegedly by the Presidency and the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are some of the reasons why legislators, high ranking elective office holders and chieftains of other political parties are defecting to the ruling party....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING.>>
In most of the instances, the defectors cite internal party wrangling or performance of the ruling government as reasons for dumping their political parties, under whose backs they rose to power.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Though political defections are not new in Nigeria’s democratic landscape, the rate and scale at which they have swept through the ranks of the opposition in recent months—less than two years into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration—have triggered growing concerns.
Many observers are now questioning the motives behind the wave of cross-carpeting, especially amid worsening economic conditions.
These concerns have been amplified by the belief that, given the severe economic crisis following President Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, and the worsening security situation, opposition leaders would rally together to present Nigerians with a viable alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yet, instead of strengthening the coalition efforts championed by former vice president and 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the reverse has been the case.
Apart from the defection of the former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai and a few others from the ruling APC to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which is being touted as the potential vehicle for the coalition, the APC has been harvesting defections from the PDP and other opposition parties at an alarming rate.
The gale of defections has permeated the political terrain as already a serving governor has moved to the APC and others reportedly only marking time.
Besides, many legislators at the national and state levels have moved to the APC, while the number of ex-governors, deputies, former legislators, among others has continued to swell.
But beyond citing the problems in their parties, Daily Trust learnt from multiple sources that some of the defectors were allegedly approached with mouth-watering offers to defect.
The essence, according to our sources, is to improve the chances of President Tinubu to get a second term in 2027.
There are allegations that a lot of money is being shared to opposition politicians especially in the Senate and House of Representatives to defect to the APC.
The allegation is the same against some politicians seen as powerful in their constituencies even though they don’t hold any political office, either elective or appointive.
Besides alleged financial inducements, there are accusations that most of the legislators that have defected so far have been assured of automatic ticket to return to the National Assembly in 2027, irrespective of how long they have been in the hallowed chambers, or the level of their performance.
It was suspected that the same offer has been made for some first-time governors from the opposition parties.
So far, only the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, has dumped the PDP, under whose back he rode to power in 2023, and joined the APC.
It is not clear whether the remaining opposition first-term governors would defect to the APC or not, but the actions and utterances of some of them showed that they are favourably disposed to what President Tinubu, and by extension the ruling party, are doing.
The first-time governors include Alex Oti (Labour Party, Abia), Umo Eno (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Peter Mba (PDP, Enugu), Abba Kabir Yusuf (NNPP, Kano), Caleb Mutfwang (PDP, Plateau), Siminalayi Fubara (PDP, Rivers), Agbu Kefas (PDP, Taraba) and Dauda Lawal (PDP, Zamfara).
Specifically for legislators at the National Assembly who are popular in their states, it was alleged that they are also being wooed with multi-billion naira projects, in addition to promises for automatic tickets for return.
But when contacted, some of them denied the allegations while others refused to talk at all. In retrospect, many of them during the announcement of their defections alleged that their former political parties were incurably enmeshed in crises and they have no option but to move on to the APC.
For instance, Senator Kawu Sumaila, who represents Kano South in the Senate under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), is one of those who recently migrated to the APC.
Soon after his defection, rumours were rife that he defected to the ruling party because he was given a project worth over N90 billion to reactivate some dams in Kano under the Ecological Fund.
When asked during an exclusive interview to comment on this allegation, Kawu Sumaila said the projects approved for his senatorial zone were true, but that they were awarded long before he and other legislators from Kano defected to the APC.
He also said there was no any condition attached to their movement to the APC or the dam projects in question.
He added that the contract, which was approved by the federal government to the tune of over N90 billion, was not influenced by him alone, or awarded directly to him, saying they worked together with some members of the House of Representatives to attract the project.
“We influenced it (the constituency project) for our people. I am not a journalist. I am a representative of the people. I made promises during my campaign—one of them being to revitalise the agricultural and irrigation systems in Kano South. Our region has three major dams—Tiga and Challawa among them—which are among the largest in West Africa. These dams even support irrigation in parts of Kano Central, Yobe, Bauchi, and up to Maiduguri.
“For instance, Challawa in Karaye has been idle for 34 to 35 years after its completion. Reactivating it would impact at least 30,000 people.
“So, as a responsible representative, should I reject that kind of opportunity just because of political party differences? Should I say no to a project that benefits my people simply because of alphabetical differences in party names?” he asked.
In Katsina State, the only three members of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the opposition PDP have defected to the ruling APC.
They are Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, representing Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency; Abdullahi Balarabe Dabai, representing Bakori/Danja, and Hon. Aliyu Ilyasu, representing Batsari/Safana/Danmusa federal constituency.
Both Dabai’s and Ilyasu’s phone numbers seem to be on call forwarding for days, such that they could only receive calls from the numbers they have saved. And the messages of inquiry sent to them yesterday on the allegations that they were influenced with either financial inducement, contracts, or automatic tickets, were not replied as at the time of filing this report.
For Hon. Majigiri, who picked up his call yesterday, he said he was about to collect his membership card of the APC at his political ward and would not be able to respond to the inquiry.
However, a former PDP ward chairman, Manawa ward of Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State, Sani Muhammad popularly known as “I know”, told our reporter that he dropped his leadership position in the APC and defected with his house member.
“Actually, he (Hon. Ilyasu) defected to the APC before even consulting us, but the moment he called me to intimate me about the move, I decided to move with him, so I defected also.
“It is indeed the crisis in the PDP, especially in Katsina State, that forced him to leave. He is not the kind of person who likes crisis. We have not heard of any inducement, but we know that the APC were calling them to join them, so he decided to join,” he said.
In Kebbi, prior to the defections of Senators Adamu Aliero, Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi and Musa Mai Doki to the APC at the floor of the Senate Chambers in Abuja, plans for their movement started last year in Birnin Kebbi when Senator Aliero nominated some known political figures considered as his foot soldiers to dialogue with the APC-led administration under Governor Nasir Idris on alleged sharing formula for elective and appointive offices.
The group, led by his junior brother, Alhaji Abba Aliero, had met with Governor Idris and other APC chieftains at the Government House chambers in Birnin Kebbi where they discussed the modalities for their defection to the ruling party.
After coming out of the meeting, Abba Aliero said they were invited for a tete-a-tete, and the public would be informed of whatever decision was reached later.
He said “We, the supporters of Senator Aliero were summoned to a friendly discussion with His Excellency, Governor Idris, which we obliged. We sought for time to return to our constituencies for further consultations with our grassroots supporters before deciding on the best course of action.”
On his part, Dr Yahaya Abdullahi has been in the Senate since 2015. Up till the time of filing this report, Dr Abdullahi has not responded to calls to comment on the alleged reasons why he defected to the APC.
However, Abdullahi had earlier offered a more nuanced rationale for his defection. He recalled his resignation from the APC in June 2022, when he also stepped down as the 9th Senate Leader, following political disagreements in his state.
According to him, those disagreements had since been resolved under the current Kebbi governor’s leadership.
“For me, this is a homecoming. It is also politically imperative that I join President Bola Tinubu,” he added.
In Zamfara, there are allegations that the likes of Senator Ikra Bilbis, who represents Zamfara Central in the 10th National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), would defect.
But in an interview with the Daily Trust, Senator Bilbis debunked the claim even though he admitted that he had succeeded in attracting projects to his people under the Tinubu administration.
“I’m not one of them (defectors). I’m not thinking about that. That’s not my priority,” he said.
When asked if he had attracted any project to his senatorial district, he said, “Of course. Have you forgotten? Recently, my bill has passed; it has gone through all the legislative processes from the Senate to the House of Representatives, and Mr President has even assented to the bill. That is the establishment of the Federal University of Health, Science and Technology.”
But when told that there were allegations that these are some of the things that the president is using to induce legislators, he said, “No. To be honest with you, to be fair to him, he has not even seen me.”
Rep. Adamu Tanko representing Suleja/Gurara/Tafa of Niger State, who defected from the PDP to the APC, denied being promised anything in return for his defection. He said it was out of his personal conviction and what he thought was the best for his people.
Rep. Tanko defected earlier in March alongside Rep. Husseini Mohammed Jallo, the member representing Igabi Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, who also joined the APC.
Rep. Tanko who spoke to Daily Trust over the phone on Sunday, said, “There was no promise of anything. There was none.”
Similarly, Donatus Matthew representing Kaura federal Constituency of Kaduna State, who dumped Labour Party (LP) for the ruling APC in February, also dismissed purported reports about enticing him with automatic ticket or any other thing by the ruling party.
The lawmaker, who also spoke to our reporter on phone, on Sunday, said the reports were mere political speculations. He told our reporter to contact the leadership of the ruling APC about whether or not there was any promise.
“Please, ask the leadership of the APC. That is the best place to get the answer to what you are asking. Thanks you,” he said.
It could be recalled that as at last week, 30 members of the House have defected since the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.
Out of the 30 that defected, 27 left the PDP, Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the NNPP and joined the ruling APC while one left LP and joined PDP. Two left LP and joined APGA.
There’s no coercion – Senate leader
Amid the backlash trailing the gale of defections, particularly the fears of a creeping one-party state, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, dismissed claims that the APC was coercing or inducing opposition lawmakers to defect.
Bamidele insisted that the decisions were voluntary and motivated by the spirit of national unity.
He described the senators’ defections as an act of patriotism and a necessary step toward building a cohesive front to address Nigeria’s deepening economic and security challenges.
“This is the time for all of us to work together to take Nigeria to the next level,” he stated, urging political actors to eschew grandstanding and focus on collaborative governance.
Bamidele also pushed back against the narrative that the APC was plotting a one-party state, maintaining that the defections should rather be seen as an alignment of political forces toward a government of national unity, not an attempt to suffocate the opposition.
His comments, however, have done little to calm fears among critics and civil society organisations who insist that the pattern of defections, coupled with statements by APC leaders such as Ganduje, reflect a broader agenda to entrench the ruling party’s dominance ahead of the 2027 polls.
They’re moving to realise their ambitions – APC
Contacted for a response to the allegations, the APC National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told Daily Trust yesterday that the defectors were joining the ruling party to realise their political ambitions.
He said those who defected to the ruling party felt they couldn’t achieve their ambitions in their former parties, stressing that APC has done no wrong in providing them the platform to thrive.
Ibrahim, who challenged those making the allegations to provide proof, said “People go into politics for a purpose, and in achieving that, you look for the right vehicle to convey you.
“If you get that vehicle, you won’t care or worry about how you get there; the most important thing is to actualise your dream through that vehicle.
“If the APC is providing the platform for them to actualise their ambitions, I don’t see anything wrong with that in politics. People change camps in politics.
“If you are in a camp where you feel your vision will be frustrated, where you feel there won’t be a level-playing field, you move to where there is going to be democratic demonstration of a level-playing field. That is the purpose of politics,” he said.
The Presidency is yet to comment on the latest allegations of inducing politicians to defect. Efforts to reach out to Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy were not successful as he was said to be in Rome.
Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, could not be reached, and he was yet to respond to a WhatsApp message sent to him.
Earlier in April, the presidency had denied pushing for a one-party state, insisting that defections were voluntary.
It insisted that democracy under President Tinubu remained vibrant and unthreatened.
In a statement titled “Democracy Strong and Alive in Nigeria,” Onanuga rejected accusations that the Tinubu administration was edging towards authoritarianism through an orchestrated wave of defections.
Reaching out to second-term govs?
Daily Trust also learnt that the support of first-time governors and those who are serving their second term, irrespective of party leaning, is also being sought after, considering their control of party structures in their states, among other advantages.
But a source said the APC-led government is not actually fixated that the governors should be lured to its fold.
“As we all know, the ultimate goal is for the APC to have the majority of votes, especially in the presidential election during the next election. Therefore, the other kite that is being flown by those pushing for the Tinubu second-term bid is for the first-time governors to give a serious commitment that they would support the president to win.
“Once they keep to their words, they would also be supported in different ways to win their second term. This could be through big federal government projects through the budget or other interventions.
“They would be given the right of first refusal by the party. It is almost the same thing with the legislators. They would be supported through various means to win their primaries and the main election,” he said.
On second-term governors, another source said, “Even though most of them might not want to defect at this time, they, nonetheless, want to remain relevant in the scheme of things.”
“While some of them would like to go to the Senate, others would not want to be disturbed with questions after leaving office on May 29, 2027…So, the kite being thrown at them is to support the APC project so that at the end of the day, it will be a win-win situation,” the source said.
The second-term opposition governors are Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (PDP, Adamawa), Bala Mohammed (PDP, Bauchi) and Seyi Makinde (PDP, Oyo).
Second-term governors who are members of the APC are Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRazak (Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), amongst others.
First-term governors who are members of the APC includes but not limited to Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Nasir Idris (Kebbi) and Umar Bago (Niger)
When contacted by one of our correspondents on whether they were influenced by President Tinubu or the National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum and governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, who commented through his spokesman, Ismaila Misilli, said there is no governor that is under pressure from any quarter.
“Our governor, who is the chairman of the northern governors and a strong member of the APC, has said it again and again that they are not under any influence,” he said.
“He has told the BBC in a recent interview, and I want to repeat what he said. Yes, big wigs are defecting and they would continue to defect to our party because of the good work we are all doing at the state level and at the national level.
“There is no directive or suggestion from the presidency for the governors to forcefully influence the defection of anybody. And there is no arrangement that the governors would be supported to have their way.
“However, what is certain is that the governors are on the same page with the president. Those that are joining the APC are simply being appreciative of the wonderful things the president and the governors are doing,” he said.
Asked if they are not scared that the party might implode at the end of the day, considering that those that are defecting mostly have the ambition of contesting for offices that are currently occupied by other politicians, Misilli said, “The APC structure is big enough to accommodate everyone. We have the federal government and we have many states, there is no problem at all.
“APC is a big house for everyone, and it is not about entrenching a one-party state; it is about providing good governance for the citizens which is gradually becoming visible.”
