There’s a fresh political tremor in Lagos—and if you’ve been paying attention to how Nigeria’s party system shifts before key elections, you already know this isn’t just another headline.
Recently, the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hakeem Amode, alongside prominent ward leaders and grassroots mobilisers, formally abandoned the PDP and crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). For some, it’s a betrayal. For others, it’s survival. But for all of us watching, it’s a clear signal that Nigeria’s party system still struggles with internal accountability, stable ideology, and loyalty built on more than just access to power.
Let’s unpack what happened, why it matters, who stands to gain, who loses out, and—most importantly—how repeated defections like this shape the bigger picture for Nigeria’s democracy.
Who Defected and Why It Matters
Hakeem Amode wasn’t just a foot soldier—he was the Lagos PDP’s chief spokesperson. His role placed him at the centre of public messaging, media engagement, and crisis management for the state’s largest opposition bloc.
His defection didn’t happen in isolation. Alongside him, at least 50 prominent ward and LGA-level leaders, including youth and women mobilisers, tendered joint resignation letters. These aren’t figureheads on paper; they’re the same people who, come rain or shine, galvanise crowds at rallies, coordinate polling unit agents, and translate campaign slogans into actual votes in the streets of Surulere, Badagry, Ikorodu, and Mushin.
This sweep fundamentally empties PDP’s operational core in key localities where election day muscle and last-mile vote protection matter most.
Why does this shake things up? In Lagos, the PDP has always faced an uphill battle against the deeply entrenched APC machine. Without seasoned grassroots actors and credible voices like Amode, rebuilding voter trust and ward-level discipline becomes nearly impossible ahead of local council elections and the next general cycle.
Reasons Cited by Defectors
So, what pushed them over the edge? Here’s what Amode and fellow defectors laid bare:
Internal Crises and Leadership Disconnect
Persistent leadership squabbles have paralysed the Lagos PDP for years. Factions loyal to different state-level ‘big men’ constantly bicker over candidacies, campaign funds, and local patronage networks. When conflict resolution fails, frustration festers.
Unfulfilled Promises
Grassroots leaders and local canvassers say they bore the brunt of election spending but received little post-election support. Many lamented unpaid mobilization fees, unkept empowerment pledges, and neglect once the ballot boxes were sealed.
Desire for Political Stability
For local politicians whose daily survival depends on visible influence, working under a fractured umbrella is a risky bet. Joining APC, which currently dominates Lagos politics, guarantees smoother access to local government resources and protects their political relevance.
Disillusionment with National Leadership
Some cited disappointment with the PDP’s national response to election setbacks and court rulings. Alleged half-hearted post-election litigation efforts and lack of cohesive opposition voice further eroded confidence that the party could mount a credible comeback.
Immediate Impact on Lagos PDP
The exit of Amode and key local coordinators is a hard punch to the Lagos PDP’s gut. Here’s the damage in plain language:
Operational Paralysis: Without seasoned ward and LGA leaders, the PDP risks losing its last-mile electoral structure. On election day, this means fewer polling unit agents, weaker collation monitoring, and vulnerability to vote-buying or ballot snatching.
Public Perception: High-profile exits feed a narrative that the PDP is a sinking ship. In Nigerian politics, perception is half the game. A party seen as divided struggles to win new voters or donors.
Candidate Recruitment: Credible aspirants may think twice before contesting under the PDP banner if they fear poor grassroots support. This opens the door for APC to pick off even more talent.
In simple terms: the PDP in Lagos now faces a daunting rebuilding task just to stay alive, let alone challenge APC’s stronghold.
How APC Benefits from the Defection
For the ruling APC, the gains are immediate and tangible:
Expanded Local Machinery: Absorbing experienced grassroots mobilisers means the APC can reinforce its dominance where it already enjoys an advantage. These defectors bring established networks, voter lists, and ward-level knowledge.
Weakened Opposition: By gutting the PDP’s local operations, APC secures an easier path in upcoming local government elections and by-elections.
Message of Invincibility: APC’s state leadership can now showcase defections as proof that the party remains the most stable and rewarding political platform in Lagos. This perception can attract fence-sitters from smaller opposition groups.
However, there’s a hidden risk too: integrating defectors without alienating loyal APC members who may resent sudden newcomers competing for appointments and contracts. Managing this balancing act is key for the APC to avoid internal grumbles.
Possible Backlash and Criticisms
While defections are commonplace in Nigeria, they rarely happen without controversy. Here’s the pushback you might hear in the coming weeks:
Accusations of Selfishness: Critics argue that defectors often jump ship for personal gain—lucrative appointments, contracts, or patronage—rather than genuine ideological disagreements.
Betrayal of Voter Mandate: Some party faithful feel cheated when leaders they supported suddenly switch sides. Voters who stuck with the PDP through tough seasons may see this as an abandonment of shared struggles and principles.
Credibility Gap for APC: Welcoming defectors strengthens APC numerically but can also raise questions about the party’s moral high ground. Critics within and outside the APC may argue that indiscriminate intake of opposition figures weakens internal discipline and ideological coherence.
Legal and Ethical Debates: Although Nigerian law allows party switching before certain deadlines, it fuels calls for constitutional amendments to curb opportunistic defection and protect the sanctity of party systems.
What This Means for Grassroots Politics in Lagos
For ordinary Lagosians, these defections reinforce a pattern: politics remains a power game for the elite while everyday concerns—like jobs, water supply, security—often get sidelined during high-stakes realignments.
Grassroots mobilisers hold real sway over community voting patterns. When they move, whole blocs of ward voters often follow. This means the immediate effect isn’t just political PR; it can reshape which party delivers boreholes, repairs roads, or channels constituency projects to neglected areas.
For the opposition PDP, this calls for a deep rethink: reconnect with loyal base voters, resolve internal rifts, and rebuild trust in local strongholds. Without doing so, more defections could follow, further weakening any hope of electoral competitiveness in Lagos.
Broader Implications for Nigeria’s Political Landscape
Zooming out, these defections highlight three persistent challenges in Nigerian politics:
Weak Party Ideology: Parties often revolve around powerful personalities rather than strong policy principles. This makes loyalty fluid and alliances temporary.
Election Season Politics: Defections tend to spike before major elections as politicians reposition for relevance and protection.
Need for Political Reforms: Repeated defections renew calls for electoral and constitutional reforms to encourage internal party democracy, strengthen ideology-driven politics, and penalise opportunistic cross-carpeting.
Until these issues are fixed, defections like Amode’s will remain a regular feature, with ripple effects on voter trust and democratic stability.
What to Watch for Next
The story isn’t over yet. Here’s what insiders and observers are watching closely:
Further Resignations: Rumours suggest more PDP ward chairmen and youth leaders might jump ship in the coming weeks if reconciliation efforts stall.
APC Integration Strategy: Will APC reward new defectors with influential positions or keep them on probation? Internal tension is possible if old loyalists feel overlooked.
PDP Rebuild Attempts: The PDP’s national and state leaders may launch crisis meetings and outreach to calm remaining members and prevent a total collapse of structures ahead of by-elections.
Impact on Local Government Elections: With grassroots operators gone, can the PDP field credible councillorship and LGA chairmanship candidates who can win without robust mobilization?
Final Thoughts
Defections like these remind us that in Nigeria, political loyalty is often transactional. For those who left the PDP in Lagos, it’s about staying afloat in a cutthroat terrain where access to power translates directly into survival and influence.
For everyday Lagosians, it’s a signal to pay attention—not just to party names, but to individual candidates, their track record, and their willingness to deliver on promises, regardless of the banner they wave.
And for Nigeria’s democracy, each defection should be a prompt for deeper reforms: a push to anchor party politics in principles and ideas that outlive individual ambitions.
Whether you see this defection as betrayal or strategy, it’s a loud reminder that in Lagos—and Nigeria at large—political tides shift quickly. Staying informed, demanding accountability, and voting wisely remain the best shields against the endless game of musical chairs under our democracy’s big tent.
