In the wake of the recent wave of defections shaking Nigeria’s political landscape, former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jacob Mark, has voiced a critical assessment of the nation’s party system, stating that Nigerian political parties operate without defined ideologies.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Mark described the ongoing political defections as a symptom of a larger problem within the Nigerian political structure. According to him, many politicians change party allegiance not because of performance or popular satisfaction with the ruling government, but due to personal gain and hidden negotiations.
He said, “Defections are okay as far as the Nigerian kind of politics is concerned. We are not operating based on any ideology as far as I’m concerned. All the political parties are the same. They represent no defined ideology that anybody can stick to. And that is why you wake up in the morning, one man is moving to this party. The next day another man is moving to the other party.
“And generally on these issues of defection, it is a constitutional right for people to shift based on what interests they wish to protect. Not necessarily because the APC as a government is performing. Not necessarily because the electorate are happy.”
Mark’s comments come on the heels of a major defection in Delta State, where Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and several PDP stakeholders officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). The move, announced after a high-level meeting at Government House Asaba, was said to be in pursuit of better alignment with development goals and the state’s interests, according to Delta State Commissioner for Works, Charles Aniagwu.
Looking ahead to 2027, Mark predicts more defections across party lines, attributing them to the dynamic nature of Nigerian politics, where personal safety and negotiations often outweigh party loyalty or public interest.
“I agree that we are yet to see the end of defections.There will be a lot of defections. Some from the APC to other parties, some from PDP to APC, some from Labour Party and so on. Now the dynamics of 2027 will cause all these movements. It is largely due to personal negotiations and safety for some of the exposed political characters we have.
“Defection does not necessarily mean that there is political mileage to be gained because somebody moved. Some think that by being in the APC they can get appointments. Some because they have negotiated some things that are not known to the general public.”
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