DEFECTIONS MAY LEAD TO MILITARY TAKEOVER – HURIWA

DEFECTIONS MAY LEAD TO MILITARY TAKEOVER – HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned that the ongoing wave of defections by federal lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), could destabilize the country’s fragile democracy and potentially open the door for a military takeover.

A statement on Wednesday by the group’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko condemned what it described as “political recklessness” and “constitutional betrayal” by lawmakers who continue to abandon the political parties that sponsored their elections for the dominant APC.

“We are sounding a strong note of warning and a profound caution to Nigeria’s legislators to comply with the constitutional provisions on defections,” said HURIWA.

“They must stop the current political insanity represented by their unbridled cross-carpeting into the APC. This anti-constitutional practice is not only a threat to multiparty democracy, but it could provide the needed motivation and elixir for coupists to attempt to torpedo democracy.”

The warning follows the latest round of defections during Wednesday’s Senate plenary session, where three senators formally dumped their opposition parties for the APC. They include Senator Akpan Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central), and Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (Osun East).

Senator Fadahunsi, in his defection letter read on the Senate floor, explained, “As a passionate ranking Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I believe in the values of the All Progressives Congress and its contributions to our dear country and constituents, particularly the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The renewed hope agenda, which emphasizes inclusivity and social welfare, has motivated my decision to join like-minded individuals committed to driving public change,” he said.

But HURIWA strongly rejected the rationale, accusing defectors of undermining the Constitution and weakening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“What is happening is treachery against democracy,” said Onwubiko.
“There are embedded anti-democratic forces in the National Assembly who are flouting the Constitution with impunity. Their actions could embolden ambitious elements within the military to truncate Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.”

Citing Section 68(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates that a legislator must vacate their seat upon defection unless their party is divided or merges with another, HURIWA argued that the defections are illegal and should attract consequences.

The group pointed to a 2022 Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which sacked 20 lawmakers—including two House of Representatives members and 18 Cross River State Assembly members—for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC without a justifiable cause.

“Sadly, enforcement of this provision is rare,” HURIWA lamented.

“Lawmakers often exploit internal party disputes as convenient cover stories while courts are either too slow or politically hesitant to rule on these violations.”

HURIWA also echoed recent remarks by respected constitutional lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), who described legislative defections without resignation as “illegal and morally bankrupt.”

Falana had warned that defecting lawmakers are duty-bound to relinquish their seats and seek re-election under their new party platform.

Beyond legality, HURIWA warned that the defections are contributing to a dangerous imbalance of power, weakening opposition voices in the legislature and endangering Nigeria’s democratic pluralism.

According to the group, the APC has expanded its dominance in the House of Representatives, growing from 179 seats at the start of the 10th Assembly in June 2023 to 207 members as of July 2025, following a wave of defections, court rulings, and replacement of deceased members. The PDP has declined to 92 seats, with other opposition parties also losing ground.

Recent defectors in the lower chamber include six PDP lawmakers from Delta State—Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, Hon. Julius Pondi, and Hon. Ukodhiko Ajiroghene Jonathan—who moved to the APC.

In addition, two Labour Party lawmakers from Enugu State—Hon. Mark Obetta and Hon. Dennis Amadi Agbo—defected to the PDP, citing internal crises in their party.

“Nigeria’s leading opposition parties—the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP—are currently mired in infighting, leadership disputes, and court cases. This collective disarray has severely weakened their capacity to serve as effective counterweights to the ruling party,” HURIWA noted.

The group warned, “Defections without consequences encourage state capture, weaken the rule of law, and destroy faith in democratic processes.

“This path leads not to reform, but to regression. Nigerians must rise in defence of constitutionalism, or risk waking up under authoritarian rule.”