It’s becoming the new political normal — governors elected under opposition platforms switching camps to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in quick succession. What used to raise eyebrows now barely causes a ripple. Yet, this quiet storm should alarm every Nigerian who still believes in the promise of multiparty democracy.
In recent months, Nigeria’s political map has shifted dramatically. From Delta to Akwa Ibom and now Enugu, governors who once stood firmly under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have crossed over to the APC. The ruling party celebrates these defections as proof of its “national acceptance,” but beneath that narrative lies a troubling erosion of ideological integrity and democratic accountability.
For many defectors, the motive is clear — survival. Aligning with the party at the centre grants easier access to federal power, funds, and political protection. It shields them from probes and offers leverage ahead of future elections. In a country where politics is often seen as a game of alignment rather than conviction, it is unsurprising that so many choose convenience over principle. But the consequences run deep.
But each defection comes with a cost. Every time a governor crosses over, the opposition weakens, and the promise of a balanced democracy fades. Without a vibrant opposition, checks and balances crumble. Policy debates become one-sided, accountability thins out, and citizens lose the power of real choice at the polls. What remains is not democracy in its full sense but a structure dominated by one party — a democracy only in name.
It also raises a moral question: what happens to the trust of voters? Citizens cast their ballots believing they are choosing both a person and a platform. When that leader jumps ship midway, it feels like political betrayal — a dismissal of the people’s mandate in exchange for personal gain. In such a climate, political apathy thrives, and cynicism deepens.
Of course, this crisis goes beyond APC or PDP. It reflects a political system that lacks ideological backbone. Most parties in Nigeria function as temporary alliances for winning elections rather than platforms built on principles or policy direction. Until we strengthen internal party democracy and build clear ideological identities, the culture of defection will persist — and with it, the erosion of public trust.
Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive on political expediency. It requires courage — leaders willing to stand for something, even when it’s unpopular. We need politicians who see governance as service, not strategy.
Because when power becomes the only ideology, democracy loses its meaning.
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