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“Betrayal of Voters!” – Outrage as Cleric Seeks Ban on Party-Hopping Politicians
A socio-political advocate and General Overseer of Temple Rebuilders Ministry, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, has called for a constitutional ban on the defection of elected political office holders in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a memorandum dated July 19, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Otoibhi described the rising trend of defections as a manifestation of political unfaithfulness, especially when driven by selfish, unethical, and unpatriotic motives.
He urged the National Assembly to amend Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, describing the current provisions as weak and inadequate, allowing elected politicians to switch parties with impunity.
“The unethical conduct of many elected politicians, who exploit constitutional loopholes to defect from the party that brought them to power, has reached alarming proportions. Sadly, they escape consequences due to these legal gaps,” he wrote.
In the memorandum, sighted by Saturday PUNCH, Otoibhi warned that the spate of defections had reached an “embarrassing level,” creating political instability, alienating voters, and causing disillusionment among party members.
He cited the defections of former governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Ben Ayade (Cross River) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still in office as examples of the abuse. He also referenced the recent defections of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno to the APC, alongside many lawmakers at both state and national levels.
The cleric expressed disappointment that the Court of Appeal, in Umahi’s case, had ruled that constitutional provisions regarding defections applied only to legislators, leaving governors and other officeholders exempt.
Otoibhi argued that defecting while holding on to an elected office is tantamount to “political robbery” against the party and the electorate.
“If an elected official chooses to defect, the honourable thing is to resign from the office that was secured through the platform of the original party,” he stated.
He explained that in a multi-party democracy like Nigeria’s, electoral victory is the product of a tripartite effort: the political party, the candidate, and the electorate. “Therefore, for an elected official to defect and retain their position is to rob both the party and the people,” he said.
Otoibhi proposed that political defections be constitutionally prohibited for all elected officials—including the President and Vice President, members of the National and State Assemblies, governors and their deputies, local government chairmen and councillors.
He recommended that exceptions be limited to cases where a political party ceases to exist, merges with another, or when an elected official voluntarily resigns their position.
He also called for the complete removal of the existing clause that permits defections based on internal party divisions, warning that the provision is being routinely abused.
Finally, Otoibhi advocated strict penalties for violators, stating: “Let us build a society where elected leaders are compelled to treat citizens with dignity and uphold the sanctity of the mandate they were given.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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