BY DAPO AKINREFON & CHARLES KUMOLU
IN a manner typical of Nigeria’s political culture, the build up to the 2015 general elections was largely characterized by gale of defections which further eroded public confidence in Nigerian politicians.

It is so due to the fact that political actors in the country are known to be bereft of ideologies and principles. Indeed, the rationale for most defections within this period could be germane given the high incidents of mismanaged intra-party relationships. There were also others that were informed by the usual pecuniary interest that often guide the judgment of Nigerian politicians.

Fallout of party primaries

However, the fallout of most party primaries, present a handy example of a major factor that provoked the exodus across different divides in the days leading to the polls. Across the country, the exercise in most parties was fraught with irregularities occasioned by imposition of candidates at the expense of party cohesion. The worst affected in this regard is the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, given that a good number of its aggrieved members jumped ship, leaving the party electorally vulnerable. Others also had their share. Interestingly, the decision to join other parties paid off for a good number of candidates, while it was a mixed bag for some.

Notable successful defectors

Prominent among the successful defectors are: House of Representatives Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Kwara State governor; Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed; Benue State governor-elect, Chief Samuel Ortom; Barnabas Gemade; deputy governor of Rivers State, Engineer Tele Kuru; Mr. Godwin Abigor of Delta State, Alhaji Sani Bello; Niger State governor-elect; former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki and Sen. Mohammed Danjuma Goje among others.

Tambuwal

The exit of the Tambuwal from the PDP was long predicted from the day he was elected Speaker. Emerging as the Speaker of the lower arm of the National Assembly against the wishes of his party, was something that easily won him enemies among the PDP leadership.

Analysts linked the immediate rationale for dumping the party to his progressive leaning and the desire to get the APC governorship ticket in Sokoto State. He scored 647,609 votes to beat his major rival and former political benefactor, Abdallah Wali, who polled 269,074 votes at the last governorship election in the state.

Ortom

Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam had in December 2014, claimed that God gave him the instruction to anoint Terhemen Tarzoo as his successor, setting the stage for the rivalry that forced Ortom, former Minister of State, Trade and Industry out of the PDP.

After the PDP primaries with 111 votes, he officially defected to the APC, where he contested and won the governorship election with 422,932 votes against PDP’s Tarzoor who polled 313,878 votes.

Ahmed

Given that Ahmed perhaps owes his rise to the number one position in Kwara through the influence of the Saraki political dynasty, his dumping of the PDP alongside Sen Bukola Saraki, was not unexpected.

Being a member of the hitherto G-7 PDP renegade governors, Ahmed dumped the PDP alongside four other governors, who cited high level impunity in the PDP as being responsible for their decision.

Expectedly, he was re-elected the governor of the north central state with 295 832 against PDP’s Simeon Ajibola, who scored 115 220 votes.

Gemade

Following a long battle over Benue Northeast senatorial  district between the incumbent, Gemade and Suswam, the former eventually lost out following the victory of the later at the senatorial primaries in the state.

It was a battle where the incumbent governor was believed to have allegedly manipulated the process to ensure that he clinched the ticket.

Determined to represent his constituency, Gemade, who is a former Chairman of the PDP got the APC ticket a few hours after dumping the PDP.

The result of the senatorial election, showed that he scored the highest votes of 140, 715 to defeat Suswam who polled a total of 118, 603 votes.

Ikuru

The claims by Ikuru that the APC is a party of rebels, insurgents and anarchists, did not sound cogent to many.

His decision to return to the PDP in a move considered a betrayal of his boss and friend, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has been largely described as selfish.

Given the victory of his party’s candidate in the controversial governorship poll in the state, Chief Nyesom Wike, Ikuru could as well be described as a successful defector.

Niger State governor-elect

Sani Bello popularly known as Abu Lolo is a business man, a former Commissioner  for Commerce and Investment in Governor Aliyu’s administration.

After he parted ways with Aliyu leading to his defection, Bello, who is a son of former military governor of the old Kano State, retired Col. Sani Bello pitched his tent with the APC.

With his financial backing and popularity, Bello defeated his PDP rival, Alhaji Umar Nasko against popular expectations.

Goje

The former governor of Gombe State was among the 11 PDP senators, who defected to the APC in June 2014, citing division in the PDP. He emerged victorious at the recent senatorial election. Goje is one of the ranking senators, likely to emerge as senate president since the position may possibly go to the northeast geo-political zone.

Abigor

Though his name may not ring a bell in national politics but Mr Abigor has proved a point. Abigor won the PDP primary election to contest the state House of Assembly for Warri South constituency 1 in Delta State on the platform of the PDP.

He was duly given a Certificate of Return, but his name was substituted in Abuja. He wanted to go to court but the courts were on strike. Following this, he defected to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, and won the elections. He strongly believed that he was closer to the people than the woman who used national party bias to substitute his name. PDP turned the loser.