TREACHERY, ingratitude, hubris, opportunism, and contemptuous disregard for the people are the hallmarks of Nigerian politics. The unfortunate and inexcusable defections from opposition parties to the ruling party can only stem from contempt for Nigerian voters.
Recently, a former presidential running mate and a sitting governor defected from their party to the ruling party. Joining this defection chorus, all three Kebbi senators — like Andrew — abandoned the PDP for the ruling party.
Claims of party division, newness to the party, and loyalty to the governor are mere smokescreens. The real reasons lie in the nature of Nigerian parties, the behaviour of Nigerian politicians, and their interactions with power.
Transfixed on a political wasteland, gazing toward a bleak political future and unsure of their next moves, the PDP offered them a political sanctuary and handed them senatorial tickets in 2023. Yet, just two years later, they repaid this invaluable gesture by setting ablaze the very house that sheltered them in the rain, turning their defections into a political anti-climax.
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In a videotaped interview two years ago, Senator Adamu Aliero refuted allegations that he was campaigning for Kebbi State’s APC gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Idris, Kauran Gwandu. He reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP and piously declared that it would be ingratitude to Almighty God to abandon the party that provided him a platform for a hotly contested senatorial seat.
Similarly, the former governor of Zamfara State and current Minister of State for Defence, Muhammad Bello Maradun, expressed unwavering loyalty to his party by invoking the wrath of Allah (SWT) upon himself should he defect. Disdainful of divine retribution — perhaps believing his incumbency shielded him — he defected to the APC and lost his re-election bid.
The senators relied on Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates that a legislator who defects to another party will not lose their seat — provided the defection is due to a division within their party or a merger with another party.
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But is the PDP truly divided enough to shield the senators from sanctions for their defections? In 2023, when the party offered them a smooth ride to the Senate, it had a functional Board of Trustees (BOT), National Working Committee (NWC), Governors’ Forum, and other structures. Today, the party has no parallel organs.
If wishes were horses, the defectors would have conjured multiple BOTs, NWCs, and Governors’ Forums as a constitutional safety net for their defections. But since political fantasies cannot substitute for reality, a party with intact structures cannot be deemed divided.
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The senators reinforced their reliance on Section 68(1)(g) — their misconstrued escape route — with disingenuous justifications: their newness to the PDP and their relationship with the Kebbi State governor.
Today, Nigerian political parties lack ideological focus, existing solely to capture power and satisfy the greed of their elite members. Since few politicians have the principle to resist inducements, many will defect without conscience — if the price is right.
Given that the PDP is crisis-ridden, shouldn’t the senators feel politically indebted to help salvage it? This sense of obligation was what led Senator Aliero to reaffirm his loyalty two years ago. With the wisdom that comes with age and the moral rectitude expected of red chamber members, shouldn’t they repay the party in its hour of need? This debt will remain a perpetual burden — whether they stay or leave — until it is honourably discharged.
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Is any Nigerian party structured into “old” and “new” members? Even if the PDP were divided as such, would the three defectors — as newcomers — have been granted the privilege to contest, given that older members would also vie for the same positions? Their very candidacies invalidate this arbitrary division and absolve them of any responsibility to help rebuild the party.
Their second excuse — that their closeness to the Kebbi State governor left them no choice but to defect in his honour — is unworthy of consideration.
If voters are not to be used and discarded at will, elected officials have a basic obligation to seek their consent before defecting. In 2013, when the APC was formed, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso left the decision to defect from the PDP to the people, conducting state-wide ward consultations to approve or reject the move. Only after widespread consent did he decamp.
After two years in the Senate, having failed to curb escalating banditry or revive Kebbi’s dying economy — and now abandoning the party that rescued them — one has no choice but to regard these defecting senators as “Distinguished Andrews” rather than opportunistic defectors.
Had the senators consulted their constituencies, would they have agreed to the defections — especially given the worsening security and economic conditions in Kebbi? Most likely, the terror-stricken villagers would have rejected the move.
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Claims of party division, newness to the party, and loyalty to the governor are mere smokescreens. The real reasons lie in the nature of Nigerian parties, the behaviour of Nigerian politicians, and their interactions with power.
Today, Nigerian political parties lack ideological focus, existing solely to capture power and satisfy the greed of their elite members. Since few politicians have the principle to resist inducements, many will defect without conscience — if the price is right.
After two years in the Senate, having failed to curb escalating banditry or revive Kebbi’s dying economy — and now abandoning the party that rescued them — one has no choice but to regard these defecting senators as “Distinguished Andrews” rather than opportunistic defectors.
The indefensible defections of privileged officeholders — in both executive and legislative branches — only reinforce the assertion that Nigerian politics is an amoral enterprise.
Jahun writes from Dutse, Jigawa State capital. He can be reached on 07039038088.
