By Valentine Obienyem
LAGOS MAY 11TH (NEWSRANGERS)-During the Peter Obi wave in 2022, many individuals – some of whom never realistically had prospects of electoral victory – secured positions largely on the strength of his popularity and political momentum.
Shortly after settling into offices, several of them defected to other political parties. A few, however, recognizing the pivotal role Obi played in their electoral success remained with him. This explains why some have consistently moved with him from the Labour Party to the ADC and subsequently to the NDC. This pattern is often described as “following your leader.”
Now, as another election cycle approaches, some of those who previously defected to the APC are either returning to the NDC or signaling intentions to return. Their primary motivation is the desire to once again ride on Obi’s political influence.
This behaviour suggests a tendency to treat Obi as a mere political instrument – useful when advantageous and discarded when convenient. That is not a principled way to follow a leader.
Regardless of other considerations, it is my view that such political characters should not be allowed to secure party tickets under the NDC. They should seek other platforms if they believe they can win elections independently. We cannot continue to indulge opportunism in the name of political strategy.
Furthermore, individuals who feel “betrayed” by their previous parties should not be allowed to displace longstanding party members merely for the purpose of contesting elections. The risk is that they may again abandon the party once electoral victory achieved. Allowing such cycles of defection and return weakens party cohesion and undermines ideological consistency.
Some of the defectors from the Senate:Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Imo, Kelvin Chukwu, Enugu and Neda Imaseun, Eda
House of Reps:
Joshua Chinedu Obika, AMAC/Bwari, FCT, Chinedu Tochukwu Okere, Imo,
Donatus Matthew, Kaduna, Bassey Akiba, Cross River, Esosa Iyawe, Edo, Daulyop Fom Chollom, Plateau, Adang Iliya, Plateau, Daniel Asama, Plateau, Mathew Nwogu, Imo, Paul Nnamchi, Enugu, Chimaobi Atu, Enugu, Dennis Agbo, Enugu, Sunday Umeha, Enugu, Chidi Mark Obeta, Enugu, Kama Nkemkanma, Ebonyi and Ngozi Okolie, Delta.
To be included are many State House of Assembly members that did the same.
Valentine Obienyem, Special Adviser to Peter Obi, writes from Awka.
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