The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Senator Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West have condemned the increasing wave of defections by governors and lawmakers, particularly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The criticism follows the defection of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah to the APC on Tuesday, alongside members of his state executive council. Similarly, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri resigned from the PDP on Wednesday with 23 state lawmakers in preparation for their defection to the ruling party.
Before now, several senators and members of the House of Representatives from the PDP, Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) had also switched to the APC.
Obi: No One Can Capture the South-East
Reacting to the development, Obi dismissed the notion that the wave of defections could guarantee the APC’s political control of the South-East.
In a statement issued by his media team, Obi said Nigeria operates under a democracy, not military rule, and that no political party can “capture” any region through defections.
READ ALSO: APC Disqualifies Kayode Ojo from Ekiti Governorship Race, Dissolves Enugu Executive
“The people will ultimately decide where to go, not governors or senators,” Obi said. “Peter Mbah is my friend, and I believe he made his decision based on his political calculations. But this talk of capturing the South-East is misplaced. We are not in a military era. Leaders should earn the people’s support through good governance.”
‘Dialogue, Not Force, on Nnamdi Kanu’s Case’
On the planned protest by activist Omoyele Sowore for the release of detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, Obi restated his long-held position that dialogue remains the best approach.
“There was no need for his arrest in the first place,” he said. “I have always advocated consultation and negotiation with anyone agitating. Let’s follow due process, not just for Nnamdi Kanu but for all agitators across the country.”
‘We Need Credible Elections’
Speaking about the newly nominated INEC chairman, Obi urged the commission to ensure credible elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We want a new Nigeria where elections are free, fair, and credible,” he said. “Positions are temporary. Let the new INEC chairman remember that integrity is what endures.”
Obi spoke during a visit to LEA Nursery and Primary School, Kapwa, Abuja, alongside Dr. Moses Paul, the ADC chairmanship candidate for the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the February 2026 elections.
Decrying the poor condition of the school, Obi promised to assist in improving facilities, lamenting that a school of over 200 pupils had no toilets and broken furniture.
“The most important thing we can do as a nation is to invest in basic education,” he said. “Investment in children is investment in the future.”
ADC: Tinubu’s One-Party Agenda Unfolding
In a separate statement, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) warned that the defections of Governors Mbah and Diri confirm President Bola Tinubu’s plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the defections as “a betrayal of the people and a dangerous sign for Nigeria’s democracy.”
“While it may appear that the APC is gaining strength, these defections are in fact a loss for democracy,” Abdullahi said. “They represent a deliberate effort to weaken the opposition and concentrate power in the hands of one party.”
‘Defections Betray the People’
The ADC accused the defecting governors of abandoning their citizens and joining a government that has “made life miserable” for most Nigerians.
“Nigerians experience the failures of the APC government daily — rising food prices, worsening insecurity, unemployment, and economic hardship,” Abdullahi said. “Even those who once campaigned for the APC now avoid being associated with it.”
He added that the government had failed in every major area, including security, economic management, healthcare, and anti-corruption.
‘A Battle for Nigeria’s Future’
Describing the defections as an act of “political apostasy,” the ADC said opposition leaders should stand by the people and provide alternatives instead of joining the ruling party.
“When the ruling party fails, the opposition must defend the people,” the party said. “Instead, these governors have chosen to abandon that responsibility.”
Abdullahi concluded that the 2027 general elections would not just be a political contest but “a battle between the Nigerian people and President Tinubu’s circle of governors.”
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
