Defections to APC weakening competitive party politics, says UI political science alumni association

The Alumni Association of the department of political science at the University of Ibadan (UI) says the growing wave of defections by opposition politicians to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is weakening competitive party politics in Nigeria.

In a communiqué, the association expressed concern over what it described as the “intensified movement” of political actors into the ruling party and the deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party.

It described the development as “worrisome and unhealthy for democratic consolidation” in a country that is constitutionally multiparty.

“Nigeria’s political system, though constitutionally multiparty, is gradually exhibiting traits associated with dominant-party democracies. The noticeable drift of politicians—especially high-profile actors—toward the ruling APC underscores the weakening of competitive party politics,” the communique reads.

“This trend, rather than reflecting ideological convergence, mirrors the logics of political survival, access to state patronage, and the increasing centralisation of political rewards within the ruling party.

“In a political environment where institutions remain weak and party platforms lack firm ideological foundations, defections have become predictable responses to shifts in the distribution of political power and largesse.

“The crisis within the PDP, Nigeria’s foremost opposition party, further compounds these challenges. What is unfolding is not a routine internal disagreement but a structural fracture symptomatic of longstanding contradictions within Nigeria’s party system.

“The emergence of parallel leaderships within the PDP demonstrates the fragility of internal democratic mechanisms, the dominance of personality politics, and the absence of institutionalised conflict-resolution frameworks.

“The broader consequence is a steady gravitation toward a dominant-party system where meaningful competition diminishes not because of electoral superiority alone but due to the disintegration of rival platforms.

“While dominant-party systems exist within democratic contexts, Nigeria’s trajectory raises concerns because it is occurring amidst weak institutions, pervasive patronage structures, and limited ideological differentiation.

“This drift also carries significant implications for governance. As opposition parties weaken, legislative oversight may decline, dissenting voices become marginalised, and the ruling party’s internal cohesion—not national consensus—may increasingly determine policy direction.”

To reverse the trend, the association called for the rebuilding of internal party structures anchored on transparency, inclusiveness, and clear ideological principles.

It urged opposition parties to rethink their strategies, explore coalitions or mergers where necessary, and redefine their purpose beyond election cycles.

“Legal reforms addressing opportunistic defections would help stabilise the party system, while civic and political education remains essential for shaping an electorate capable of rewarding ideas rather than patronage,” the association said.

“The reassertion of institutional independence—particularly by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and anticorruption bodies—is equally central to restoring balance within the political arena.

“As scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic project, the Alumni Association reiterates its commitment to engaging public discourse, contributing to political reform, and promoting practices that deepen democratic governance.”