The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces a serious threat as an increasing number of state governors defect from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Ibrahim Mualeem Zikirullahi, the organisation said the trend could entrench a de facto one-party system and undermine the electoral mandates freely given by voters.
CHRICED said the wave of defections sweeping across several states is not driven by ideology or policy alignment, but by political survival, patronage and the search for protection as the country moves toward the 2027 general election.
According to the organisation, what is often portrayed as routine political realignment is, in reality, a systematic weakening of opposition politics that erodes democratic accountability and weakens institutional checks on executive power.
“The gale of defections from opposition parties to the ruling party is not merely political manoeuvring; it is the slow but steady march toward a one-party state, a civilian dictatorship cloaked in democratic garb,” the statement read.
Betrayal of Voters’ Mandate
The group expressed concern that governors elected on opposition platforms, including in long-standing party strongholds, are abandoning the mandates given to them by voters, describing such actions as a betrayal of democratic choice and a distortion of the electoral process.
“Defections are not about competence, sound policies or citizen welfare. They are about personal aggrandisement, survival, and greed,” CHRICED said.
READ ALSO: Labour Party Reps Accuse Tinubu, APC of Prioritising 2027 Politics at the Expense of Nigerians
Drawing on international experience, CHRICED warned that Nigeria risks repeating the mistakes of countries where prolonged one-party dominance led to economic decline, repression and mass suffering.
It cited Zimbabwe, Russia, Cameroon and Kenya as examples where defections, patronage and institutional decay paved the way for authoritarian rule.
Institutions Under Scrutiny
The organisation said Nigeria’s current trajectory shows troubling similarities, particularly in the conduct of key democratic institutions.
CHRICED accused the National Assembly of failing in its oversight responsibilities, alleging that it has become increasingly unwilling to challenge executive excesses or interrogate the constitutional implications of mass defections.
READ ALSO: Can Governor Adeleke Win Re-election Under Accord Party?
“When opposition is silenced, when the legislature becomes a rubber stamp and when the judiciary seals corruption, dictatorship does not arrive with guns; it arrives with applause,” the statement said.
CHRICED also raised concerns about the role of the judiciary, arguing that court decisions which treat party affiliation as a purely personal matter ignore the fact that elected officials derive their legitimacy from the political platforms on which they were voted into office.
Human Cost of Democratic Erosion
According to the organisation, the erosion of democracy driven by defections carries serious human consequences, including deepening poverty, worsening insecurity, declining public services and rising political apathy, particularly among young Nigerians.
“Nigeria’s democracy will not collapse overnight; it will wither silently if defections and arrogance go unchallenged,” CHRICED warned.
Elections at Risk
The group said that if the trend continues unchecked, elections risk becoming mere formalities, with political outcomes effectively determined long before ballots are cast.
“The gale of defections is not a harmless political game. It is the erosion of accountability, the silencing of dissent and the betrayal of the people’s mandate,” the statement added.
CHRICED called on civil society organisations, the media, opposition parties and citizens to resist what it described as the normalisation of defections as a political strategy.
It also urged democratic institutions to reclaim their constitutional roles and safeguard Nigeria’s multiparty system.
“Nigeria stands at a crossroads. Greed and arrogance for power must not be allowed to destroy the nation,” the organisation said, stressing that the country’s future depends on defending democratic choice and genuine political competition.
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.
