As the wave of political defections continues across Nigeria, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have lamented the lack of genuine political ideology among the nation’s political parties, warning that the trend threatens the stability of democracy.
Makinde, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, spoke at the public presentation of a book titled “Omituntun’s Political Ideology of Governor Seyi Makinde” in Ibadan.
He said the ease with which politicians switch parties shows that politics in Nigeria is driven by personal interest rather than conviction.
“Our parties are almost indistinguishable, which is why politicians find it easy to move from PDP to APC or SDP without remorse,” Olanrewaju said. “The governor believes politics should be about impact, not power.”He added that though Makinde may not have formally documented his ideology, his consistent governance style and people-oriented policies reflect a clear philosophy anchored on service and results.
In a related development, Senator Dandutse, while contributing to debate on the proposed Electoral Act 2025, urged the Senate to introduce strict measures against indiscriminate defections, describing them as a betrayal of voters’ trust.
“You cannot be elected on one platform and defect without consequence. The mandate and will of the people are being betrayed,” he said.
The lawmaker also called for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to oversee local government elections and for the number of registered political parties to be reduced to not more than ten, arguing that many exist only on paper.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio defended the recent defections to the APC, attributing them to President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and economic reforms.
He described Tinubu as “the father of all political parties,” saying the defectors were driven by patriotism and confidence in his governance.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed October 28 for the screening of aspirants ahead of its national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa announced former Minister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as the northern consensus candidate for National Chairman.
Former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu also weighed in, describing the PDP’s crisis as a “natural growth phase” that could strengthen the party if social justice and internal fairness are restored.
“Once we restore social justice, the PDP will rise again,” Ikpeazu said.
Political observers say the ongoing defections and party realignments may reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.