Historical reflection of defection for lawmakers in Delta State

By Moses Darah

The recent wave of lawmakers defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State may not necessarily guarantee their victory in the 2027 polls. Infact, history has shown that switching parties does not always lead to success.

For instance, Sen. Fred Aghogho Brume who represented Delta Central Senatorial District at the Senate from 1999-2003 failed to secure the PDP nomination for a second term and subsequently defected to the Alliance for Democracy (AD). However, he lost the 2003 election to the PDP candidate, Olorogun Felix Ovuoderoye Ibru.

Recall, Sen. (Prof) Adego Erhiawarie Eferakeya, who represented Delta Central Senatorial District from 2007-2011, defected from the PDP to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), but unfortunately, failed to secure a return to the Senate and lost to Sen Pius Akpor Ewherido of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP).

A two time Senator Peter Nwaoboshi’s defection from the PDP to the APC did not quite work out as planned. He lost his bid for a third term in the 2023 elections, and Ned Nwoko of the PDP emerged victorious in the Delta North Senatorial District.

Hon. Ben Igbakpa’s recent experience is another notable example of the challenges politicians face when switching parties. In 2023, Igbakpa failed to secure the PDP ticket for Ethiope Federal Constituency and subsequently defected to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Unfortunately, his bid to return to the House of Representatives was unsuccessful, and Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu of the PDP emerged victorious.

The experiences of Brume, Eferakeya, Nwaoboshi, and Igbakpa indeed underscore the risks and uncertainties that come with party switching. In the context of Nigerian politics, these risks can be particularly pronounced.

Ultimately, the outcomes of Brume, Eferakeya, Nwaoboshi, and Igbakpa serve as a reminder that party switching is no guarantee of electoral success, and that politicians must be prepared to navigate a complex and ever-changing landscape to achieve their goals.