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Wave of Political Defections: A Dangerous Trajectory For Nigeria’s Democracy

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Political Parties

Wave of Political Defections: A Dangerous Trajectory For Nigeria’s Democracy

Wave of political defections: a dangerous trajectory for Nigeria’s democracy. The recent and ongoing wave of political defections in Nigeria has sparked intense debate, and raised concerns about the authenticity and belief in political party ideology and integrity, with many questioning the rationale behind these defections and their potential impact on the country’s fragile democracy.

Politicians in Nigeria have been switching parties, with many defecting from opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This trend has raised concerns about the stability of Nigeria’s democratic system and the potential for a one-party state that portends grave danger for democracy undergoing evolution.

The role of strong and responsible political opposition in strengthening democratic institutions and as catalysts for driving national development across all tiers of governance through the principle of checks and balances is firmly undeniable.

Defections across political divides have been premised on diverse factors, namely, politicians seeking power and personal economic gains, differences in party ideologies and policies, internal party conflicts and power struggles,
and politicians seeking to align themselves with the ruling party for future electoral benefits, weak democratic institutions and poor regulatory laws.

The gale of defections has several detrimental effects on Nigeria’s democracy, such as weakening opposition, making it challenging to hold the government accountable.

Frequent party switching can undermine the country’s efforts to deepen its democracy, impair growth and derail the consolidation of democratic gains.

Politicians may prioritize their personal interests over the needs of their electorates in a nation tilting towards a pseudo one-party system, with weak political institutions, thus entrenching entitlement mentality.

Mass defections to the ruling party can imbue authoritarianism, undermining democratic principles and institutions leading to pseudo dictatorship.

To curb the negative impacts of defections on Nigeria’s democracy and enshrine positively impactful democratic values, strict and unambiguous regulatory laws are indispensably essential to regulate defections.

Furthermore, truly independent, unbiased, and strong democratic regulatory institutions are vital for the sustenance of Nigeria’s democratic progress.

Most importantly, the outcome or results of Nigeria’s elections must truly reflect the political will and choice of the electorates. Undue influence, interference, and opposition bullying and oppression through democratic regulatory institutions’ aided electoral manipulations in favour of preferred political parties or candidates, thus subverting the electoral choice and will of the electorates and eroding democratic trust and confidence is the single greatest threat to Nigeria’s democratic success and a bitter recipe for weakening opposition political parties.

Irrespective of political divides, the fight against corruption in public governance must be holistic and all-encompassing, with no sacred personalities to spare, the laws against corruption must be applied squarely and fairly when and where found wanting and should not be deployed as a tool for bullying opposition politicians to defect to the ruling party in a bid to weaken opposition.

Wave of Political Defections

Wave of Political Defections

Responsible, vibrant, robust, purposeful, strong, and developmentally oriented political opposition is crucial for holding the government accountable and promoting democratic probity to take Nigeria to her democratic Eldorado.

Finally, the gale of defections in Nigeria’s politics highlights the need for robust democratic institutions, stringent rules, and a true culture of party loyalty.

As the country navigates these challenges, it is important to prioritize the interests of citizens and promote democratic accountability for national growth.

Through viable political opposition, Nigeria can strengthen its democracy and ensure that politicians serve the people, not just their personal interests, spur national growth to achieve visible and palpable development across all sectors.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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