The recurring wave of defections in Nigerian politics continues to expose the country’s weak political structure, as elected officials frequently abandon their parties, often moving from opposition groups to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), according to nigeria latest news today reports.
Political analysts tracking nigeria latest news today indicate that this trend is a source of serious worry about the stability of Nigeria's political institutions as well as the lack of real ideological belief among politicians.
In the recent months, nigeria latest news today has been dominated by news of mass defections, primarily among politicians and influential personalities from the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).
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Last week, following months of speculation documented by nigeria latest news today, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori officially defected from the PDP to the APC. His defection was announced after a closed-door meeting held at the Government House in Asaba.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Ifeanyi Okowa, a former governor of Delta and a top member of the PDP, also defected from the party, sending the political world into shock, nigeria latest news today informs. Okowa, a retired medical doctor, was the vice-presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 elections.
According to nigeria latest news today, Atiku Abubakar's choice of Okowa, a previous Governor of Delta State, as his running mate—over present Federal Capital Territory Minister and past Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike—was a strong catalyst for the intraparty PDP split that still rocks the party.
Related: Saraki Responds to Delta Defections: 'No Cause for Alarm, PDP Will Rebuild'
Oborevwori and Okowa defections—both of whom rose through PDP ranks—have further cut down opposition prospects, with nigeria latest news today citing fears over the survival of the PDP ahead of the next general elections and the proposed coalition to oust President Bola Tinubu.
The majority of opposition leaders have attributed the presidency's role in using state machinery to harass PDP leaders into decamping into crossover, an issue that pervades nigeria latest news today political analysis.
Although defections are not new, nigeria latest news today analysts note that the trend represents a deeper crisis of values in Nigerian politics. Political conduct remains motivated by personal ambition, rather than ideological allegiance.
Analysts in nigeria latest news today argue that an immediate overhaul of Nigeria's constitutional and legal system is required to regulate party loyalty and curb out-of-control defections.
Until the reforms are enacted into law, nigeria latest news today assumes that the circle of opportunistic cross-carpeting will go on uninterrupted, and at the expense of the democratic advancement of the country.