As political defections sweep through Nigeria’s major parties, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse of Katsina South have both expressed alarm over what they describe as the collapse of political ideology in the country.
Governor Makinde, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, spoke at the launch of a new book, Omituntun’s Political Ideology of Governor Seyi Makinde, held at the Local Government Staff Training School in Ibadan.
He lamented that Nigerian political parties have become indistinguishable, allowing politicians to move freely between them without conviction or principle.
“Our parties are almost indistinguishable, which is why politicians find it so easy to cross from one to another — today PDP, tomorrow APC, next week SDP — because there is no philosophical difference guiding them.”
Makinde, according to him, believes politics should be about service and measurable impact, not just the pursuit of power.
“In the U.S., you know where Republicans and Democrats stand, but here, it’s often hard to tell what a politician represents. The governor seeks to change that by making politics about impact, not power,” he said.
He added that while the governor may not have formally defined a political doctrine, his governance style already reflects a distinct philosophy rooted in accountability and public welfare.
On the floor of the Senate, Dandutse — a member of the ruling APC — echoed similar sentiments. He said the constant defection of politicians weakens democracy and betrays voters’ trust.
Speaking during the debate on the proposed Electoral Bill 2025, which seeks to replace the 2022 version, the lawmaker called for strong legal provisions to stop politicians from switching parties without consequence.
“You cannot be elected on a platform and then defect without consequence. The mandate and the will of the people are being betrayed,” he said, urging the Senate to make defections punishable by law.
The senator also proposed that local government elections be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) instead of state commissions, to ensure transparency at the grassroots. He further advised reducing Nigeria’s political parties to not more than ten, saying most registered ones exist “only on paper” and confuse voters.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended recent defections to the ruling party, insisting that many lawmakers are joining the APC out of patriotism and faith in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Akpabio made the remarks after leading two newly defected senators — Agom Jarigbe of Cross River North and Kaila Samaila of Bauchi North — to a meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
“They see the President as the father of the nation, not just of one party,” Akpabio said. “His policies on revenue and economic reform are uniting leaders across divides.”
Meanwhile, the opposition PDP is battling to steady its ranks ahead of its national convention scheduled for November in Ibadan. The party has set October 27 as the deadline for submission of nomination forms and October 28 for screening of aspirants.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, chair of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee, said former Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has emerged as the northern consensus candidate for National Chairman — a move aimed at strengthening party unity.
Amid these internal struggles, former Abia State governor Okezie Ikpeazu urged PDP members not to lose hope, describing the party’s current turmoil as “a natural phase of decline before renewal.”
In Ondo State, another wave of defections looms, as PDP, SDP, and AA leaders under the banner of Nigeria Workstation prepare to join the APC next week in Akure — a move described as “a major political realignment ahead of future elections.”
With the opposition shrinking and defections rising, analysts warn that Nigeria’s democracy may face its biggest ideological test yet.
