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Political parties

Defection and Betrayal: The Unpredictable Trend in Nigerian Politics

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In Nigeria, the nature of politics has led to the unpredictable and dynamic trend of heads of political parties defecting to other parties and even campaigning against their former parties. Analysts attribute this trend to the manner parties are elected and removed from office, compelling leaders to move to remain relevant in politics. Many former chairmen of major parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), have defected to other parties, becoming serious opponents to their former parties.

Key Takeaways:

  • John Odigie-Oyegun, former national chairman of the APC, defected to the opposition coalition and is working to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
  • Adamu Mua'zu, former national chairman of the PDP, defected to the APC in 2019 and has become an opponent of his former party.
  • Uche Secondus, former deputy national chairman of the PDP, is a member of the opposition coalition and has not officially left the PDP.
  • Ali Modu Sheriff, former national chairman of the PDP, defected to the APC in 2018 and ended his party's chairmanship contest.
  • Barnabas Gemade, former national chairman of the PDP, defected to the APC in 2014 and later joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
  • Tunde Adeniran and Ibrahim Mantu, former co-chairmen of the PDP, defected to the SDP in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Statistics:

  • Since 1999, at least 7 former national chairmen of the APC and PDP have defected to other parties and become opponents of their former parties.
  • As of 2022, at least 3 former national chairmen of the PDP are members of the opposition coalition.
  • The leader of the opposition coalition, Oyegun, has been critical of the APC's leadership style and blames them for the country's socio-economic challenges.
  • In 2020, Gemade justified his defections, stating that politicians must move based on political interests and personal ambitions.

Sources:

  • Weekend Trust
  • Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu
  • Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
  • APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
  • Abuja High Court
  • Supreme Court of Nigeria
  • Former governor of Bauchi State, Isah Yuguda
  • Former national chairman of the PDP, Mu'azu Adamu

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