Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation magazine, has expressed concerns that President Bola Tinubu may have an inaccurate perception of his administration’s effectiveness, largely influenced by the recent surge of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During an appearance on the Soni Irabor Live program on News Central, Momodu emphasized that political realignments in Nigeria are often devoid of ideological foundations, which only serves to heighten public dissatisfaction.
“When individuals switch parties, they should articulate the contributions of their new party to society, making it easier for the public to support them. This transparency could help even the skeptics recognize the new party’s achievements,” he stated.
“However, across Nigeria, there is widespread discontent. The level of bitterness I’ve witnessed is unprecedented, and I hope the president is receptive to this feedback,” he added.
Momodu suggested that Tinubu might not fully understand the gravity of the nation’s current challenges. “It’s possible that the president is unaware of the reality on the ground because, seeing numerous governors defecting to his party, one might easily assume that he is the best thing for Nigeria,” he remarked.
He acknowledged that it’s understandable for Tinubu to feel this way.
When asked about the constitutional implications of defections, Momodu noted that Nigeria’s constitution has often been disregarded. “Unfortunately, our constitution has been effectively cast aside. It clearly states that an elected official who defects must vacate their position,” he explained.
He argued that public officials who choose to defect must be ready to relinquish their roles. “Anyone dissatisfied with their political party must be prepared to forfeit everything and accept that reality. It is unacceptable to continue acting as though they remain in power,” he said.
The former presidential aspirant further asserted that the ruling party should have the authority to decide its representatives. “The party in power has the prerogative to determine its representatives,” he noted.
“Yet, we witness frequent party-switching. One might wake up aligned with the APC, switch to the PDP by evening, and revert to the APC the next morning. It is truly unfortunate,” he added.
On Thursday, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former political adviser in the presidency, characterized the APC as a “political refugee camp.” He remarked that the ruling party is inundated with defectors, many of whom are either seeking political office or escaping legal troubles.
“With the party swelling with individuals fleeing prosecution and those vying for positions, the APC is increasingly populated by the wrong crowd,” he stated.
