As defection fever grips the political class, critics say it’s no longer about ideology—but immunity. In Nigeria today, power isn’t about principles, it’s about protection.
By IDNN Prime Editorial Desk | April 25, 2025
[ABUJA] — In a political era defined by alliances of convenience and shifting allegiances, the recent defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by some of the most visible leaders of the opposition has ignited a firestorm of criticism, disbelief, and public disgust.
Leading the charge are two loud voices from different corners of Nigeria’s political and ideological spectrum: Nollywood star-turned-political advocate, Kenneth Okonkwo, and Timothy Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Their message is brutally clear: This isn’t defection. This is self-preservation. And the public should be outraged.
The Trigger: Delta’s Political Exodus
It all started when Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several commissioners publicly dumped the PDP for APC—in what insiders describe as “a pre-2027 alignment strategy.”
The visuals were slick. The soundbites, diplomatic. But the optics? Explosive.
“This isn’t a merger of minds. It’s a migration of fear,” said Timothy Osadolor in a Punch interview.
He pointed to the growing use of state security agencies—EFCC, ICPC, DSS—as tools of intimidation, warning that what looks like political realignment is in fact “a surrender to a regime of coercion.”
Kenneth Okonkwo: “This Is a Stomach Infrastructure Stampede”
Kenneth Okonkwo, a household name in Nollywood and a fierce critic of President Tinubu’s administration, minced no words.
“Mark my words. In less than one year, those defecting to APC today will regret it. They’re not defecting for ideas—they’re defecting to escape the EFCC,” he wrote on 𝕏.
Okonkwo blamed the administration’s “misrule, corruption, and rising hunger” as forces that will eventually turn public sentiment against both the APC and the defectors trying to ride its wave.
“2027 won’t be APC vs PDP. It will be APC vs Nigerians,” he declared.
Power vs Principles: What Is Driving the Cross-Carpeting?
Political defection is not new in Nigeria. But what’s alarming observers this time is the scale, timing, and the absence of ideological explanation.
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Why would politicians who publicly criticized the APC now suddenly embrace it?
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Why are these shifts happening after federal investigations or anti-corruption probes are announced?
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Why does crossing to APC often result in probes being dropped—or never heard of again?
Osadolor calls it “political laundering”—a term gaining traction on social media.
“They’re not switching for governance. They’re switching to be shielded,” he said.
Silence, Intimidation, and the Death of Dissent
Both Okonkwo and Osadolor agree on one critical danger: the slow suffocation of dissent in Nigeria’s democracy.
Opposition leaders and vocal critics are either:
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Silenced with threats
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Crushed with investigations
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Or co-opted through offers of ‘protection’ and political deals
“The result is a country where criticism is dangerous, and defection is survival,” said political analyst Dr. Joy Eghosa in an IDNN roundtable.
The People See Through It—And They’re Not Buying It
On the streets of Abuja, Lagos, Warri, and even online, the reaction to the defections is unified: cynicism, anger, and exhaustion.
“They’re just switching gangs,” said one vendor in Gwagwalada. “It doesn’t change our suffering.”
“These defections insult our intelligence. It’s like they think we don’t remember their old speeches,” said another.
A System That Rewards Betrayal, Not Performance
In Nigeria, defection is rarely punished. There are no real political consequences for switching parties, even when it contradicts public mandate. In fact, it often leads to:
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New appointments
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Dropped charges
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Fresh political capital
This creates a dangerous pattern:
Performance is not rewarded. Loyalty to power is.
“How do you build a country when betrayal pays better than governance?” Okonkwo asked.
📊 The Bigger Picture: Democracy Under Siege?
The combined message from both critics is that defection today is no longer political—it’s transactional.
It’s about who controls the state, not who serves the people.
And when state institutions are used to manipulate loyalty, what remains of opposition, ideology, or accountability?
🧠 A Thought-Provoking Close: What Will Nigerians Do in 2027?
With 2027 approaching, and defections reshaping the political landscape, Nigerians face a pivotal moment:
Will voters reward those who fled for comfort? Or will they punish the politics of betrayal and start demanding ideological consistency, ethical courage, and people-focused governance?
“Let 2027 be a referendum. Not just on APC. But on those who crawled into it out of fear, greed, or convenience,” said Osadolor.
One thing is certain: Nigerians are watching. And remembering.