The Dangerous Wave of Governors’ Defections and the Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy 

The Dangerous Wave of Governors’ Defections and the Threat to Nigeria’s Democracy 

By Tom FredFish

In recent months, Nigeria has witnessed an alarming pattern of political defections by state governors and their appointees to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This toxic trend, which intensified under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration beginning in 2023, represents a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic stability and a calculated attempt to weaken opposition voices. Rather than being motivated by ideology or the will of the people, these defections are driven by fear, personal ambition, a desire for political survival, and the pursuit of federal patronage.

The defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State to the APC was one of the early signals of this new wave. Not long after, the governors of Akwa Ibom; now Enugu, and Bayelsa followed suit, each praising the Tinubu government despite the worsening poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and inflation ravaging their citizens. These governors did not consult their people before abandoning the platforms on which they were elected. Instead, they are chasing federal contracts, protection from investigations, and political favour. Their actions constitute a betrayal of their states and a violation of the social contract they swore to uphold.

This movement is even more dangerous because governors do not defect alone; instead, they often act in concert. They drag along commissioners, advisers, local government chairmen, and lawmakers, turning political loyalty into a commodity. In Akwa Ibom, when the governor recently aligned himself with the APC, many appointees quietly followed, hoping to secure their personal futures. However, a few principled individuals refused to join this political prostitution. A clear example is Commissioner Ini Ememobong, who courageously declined to defect alongside the governor. He stood on principle, proving that integrity still exists in our politics and that not every leader is for sale.

It is important to stress that these defections do not reflect the will of the Nigerian people. The masses are suffering under the Tinubu government. Since May 29, 2023, fuel subsidy removal, currency devaluation, and harsh economic policies have plunged millions into poverty. Insecurity continues to spread across the nation, unemployment rises daily, and hunger has become a national plague. No ordinary citizen is running to join the APC, only political elites seeking protection. Therefore, these defections are not democracy in action; but betrayal in action, against the will of the people.

What makes this situation even more troubling is the fact that the defecting governors are predominantly from the South. By collapsing Southern opposition into the APC, the Tinubu administration is openly encouraging regional politics. This is a dangerous strategy that could backfire spectacularly. History teaches us that when one region attempts to dominate, other regions respond in self-defense. The North may soon rally around ethnic, religious, and regional sentiments to “take back power,” potentially in the 2027 presidential election. This would drag Nigeria backward to the divisive politics of the 1960s and 1970s, when ethnic and regional conflict derailed national unity and nearly destroyed the country. By orchestrating one-sided defections, Tinubu is laying the foundation for renewed regional hostility and the destruction of Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

The situation in Rivers State exposes the full extent of this agenda. The unconstitutional suspension of the Rivers State Governor for six months was a blatant act of federal coercion. The aim was to intimidate him into submission and force him to defect. It mirrors the pattern used against other governors: create a crisis, threaten removal, then offer “peace” in exchange for joining the ruling party. If federal power continues to be used to bully governors into the APC, Nigeria will become a one-party state in all but name. And history shows that every one-party state eventually slides into dictatorship.

Let it be known that defecting to the APC does not guarantee success in 2027. The Nigerian people are far more politically aware today than in 2023. They will not sit at home while their future is traded by desperate elites. The era of silent suffering is over. In 2027, voters will come out in large numbers to support credible candidates, not party labels. Nigerians are ready to defend their votes with everything they have, even with their blood if necessary. No amount of federal manipulation will silence the power of an angry people determined to reclaim their nation.

Therefore, this is a call to all loyal members of opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, and other pro-democracy forces: do not panic. Do not be intimidated by the defections. Remain calm, remain focused, and organize strategically. Go back to the grassroots, the real victims of Tinubu’s maladministration. The farmers who cannot afford fertilizer. The market women who are crushed by inflation. The unemployed youth roam the streets. The civil servants whose salaries can no longer feed their families. These are the people ready for change.

Now is the time to rebuild party structures from the ground up, educate the masses, unite opposition forces, and prepare for a people-driven revolution at the ballot box. Nigeria’s democracy has survived military coups, civil war, and dictatorship. It must not be destroyed by political prostitution and the greed of a few governors.

History will remember those who stood firm and defended democracy. It will also remember those who sold their people for appointments and federal patronage. Nigeria does not belong to defectors. Nigeria belongs to the people.

Dr. Tom FredFish is a Public Affairs Analyst, Journalist, and Political Commentator