Olajide Omojolomoju
Despite the momentum-gathering anti-Tinubu coalition, spearheaded by prominent opposition leaders, the ruling All Progressives Congress l, APC, continues to receive into its fold opposition politician from the major opposition parties in droves.
On Tuesday, two members of the House of Representatives, Peoples Democratic Party’s Peter Akpanke, representing Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara federal constituency of Cross River State; and Labour Party’s Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isi-Uzo federal constituency of Enugu State switched their allegiances to the APC.
The notices of the switch of allegiance by the two federal lawmakers was announced during the plenary session on Tuesday by the Spekaer of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.
On his part said that the internal crisis in the PDP informed his defection, while Nnamchi noted that the leadership crisis in the LP was the motivating factor for his departure.
Recall that since late last year, prominent elected public officials have been changing political platform in anticipation of the 2027 elections.
On October 2, 2024, PDP’s Chris Nkwonta, who represents Ukwa East/Ukwa West Federal constituency of Abia State took a flight from the opposition party to join the ruling APC. On October 30, PDP’s Sulaiman Abubakar from Gummi/Bukkuyum in Zamfara also aligned himself with the ruling party.
In the first week of December, 2024, four Labour Party and one PDP lawmakers change political platforms to the APC,this further shifting the scale of balance and dynamics in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
The defection fever continues on February 11 and 12, when Amos Magaji from Kaduna State and Garba Koko from Kebbi State both departed the main opposition PDP to the ruling APC.
Recall also that on March 18, two additional PDP lawmakers – Jallo Mohammed (Igabi Federal constituency, Kaduna) and Adamu Tanko (Gurara/Suleja/Tafa federal constituency, Niger) transferred their allegiances to the ruling party, citing the internal crises within the PDP as thv reason for the action.
On April 23, the governor fo Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, a vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general elections and their supporters dumped the PDP for the ruling APC in a move that strategical altered the political dynamics of the state.
Delta State, known for its oil wealth and strategic importance, has since 1999 been a stronghold of the PDP and Oborevwori and Okowa’s move signaled a major political shift. Okowa emphasised that there is the need for Delta State to align with the Federal Government to unlock development opportunities. This defection is seen as a turning point in the state’s political trajectory.
On May 6, six PDP members change allegiance and pitched their tent with the ruling APC.
Victor Nwokolo, representing the Ika North East/Ika South federal constituency; Julius Pondi, who represents the Burutu federal constituency; Thomas Ereyitomi, representing the Warri North/Warri South/Warri West federal constituency; and Nicholas Mutu, representing Bomadi/Patani Federal constituency, all of Delta State all defected from the opposition PDP to the ruling APC.
A first term PDP member of the lower chamber, representing Ndokwa/Nkwani federal constituency, Ezechi Nnamdi, also transitioned from the PDP to the APC.
On May 8, three PDP members from Katsina shifted to the APC and they include Abdullahi Balarabe, who represents the Bakori/Danja federal constituency, who expressed his desire for a more stable platform due to the “protracted crises” within the PDP; Yusuf Majigiri, representing the Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency, on his part cited a “high level of internal crises without cure” in the PDP.
On May 15, two federal legislators from Kano – Kabiru Usman and Abdullahi Sani, representing the Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituencies, respectively also switched allegiance from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP to the APC.
Similarly, Oluwole Oke from Osun State and Sunday Umeha from Enugu State change allegiance from the PDP to the APC.
On May 28, Okolie Lawrence and Akingbaso Olanrewaju defected from the LP and PDP respectively to join the APC.
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, on Friday, June 6, announced his defection from the PDP to the APC. The announcement was just a confirmation of what had been making the rounds as rumour weeks before then.
Eno made the announcement at a formal ceremony held at the Government House in Uyo – an event which attracted prominent APC figures from across the country.
Explaining the rationale for his shift of allegiance from the PDP to the APC, Governor Eno said, “After completing the rounds of my consultation as your servant who you have elected to serve, I have therefore decided to progressively move to the APC.”
Emphasizing that his defection was a strategic move, Eno added, “We are not joining the APC from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength. We’re bringing value to Akwa Ibom State. We’ve come into the APC with a ministry of reconciliation.”
Although during these defections to the APC, the ruling party also lost of its elected officials to the opposition parties, but its gains far outweighs its loss.
It is very glaring that more defections to the ruling party in the coming days would increase, as more governors elected on the platform of the PDP are rumoured to be perfecting their movement to the ruling party. They are just waiting for the opportuned moment to announce their change of allegiance.
But the question remains: will these gale of defections improve the fortunes of the ruling party in 2027? Only time will tell.
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