Cleric Urges Constitutional Ban on Defections by Elected Politicians
The General Overseer of Temple Rebuilders Ministry and socio-political activist, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, has called for a constitutional amendment to prohibit defections by elected political office holders.
In a memorandum dated July 19, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, Benjamin Kalu, Otoibhi described the growing trend of political defections as a sign of unfaithfulness, especially when driven by selfish, unethical, and unpatriotic motives.
He specifically proposed amendments to Sections 68(1)(g) and 109(1)(g) of the Nigerian Constitution, which he said contain loopholes that allow politicians to switch parties at will without consequences.
“The constitution, as it stands, permits political defections without accountability, allowing unethical and unprincipled politicians to manipulate the system,” he said.
According to the cleric, this wave of defections has led to instability within the country’s political system, disillusionment among voters, and frustration among loyal party members.
He referenced high-profile cases such as the defections of former governors David Umahi (Ebonyi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), and Ben Ayade (Cross River) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) while still in office.
Otoibhi lamented that the judiciary has failed to curb the trend, citing the Court of Appeal’s ruling in the Umahi case which held that constitutional provisions regarding defections applied only to legislators.
More recently, Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta) and Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom) were reported to have left the PDP for the APC, further fueling the debate.
He stated, “In Nigeria, every electoral victory belongs equally to three stakeholders — the political party, the candidate, and the electorate. Therefore, defecting while holding onto an office won under a party’s platform is tantamount to robbing both the party and the people.”
