Ladan Salihu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, has criticized governors defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, saying relying on Bola Tinubu for political survival is neither new nor a guarantee of electoral success.
Salihu, a former director general of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, made the remarks Monday during The Morning Show on Arise Television.
His comments come as several state governors continue to defect to the APC.
Salihu said many governors now treat Tinubu as a “tin god” capable of securing their political future instead of relying on the support that originally brought them to power.
He questioned why governors would abandon the parties under which they won elections convincingly, suggesting the defections are driven by political calculations ahead of future polls.
“History does not lie,” Salihu said. “We have political precedence when people defect from one party to another chasing what they believe is the golden fleece, and it often crashes before our eyes.”
He noted that at one point the Peoples Democratic Party had about 28 governors but still lost power to the APC in the 2015 general elections.
The latest defection involves Dauda Lawal, governor of Zamfara State, who left the PDP in early March, bringing the number of APC governors to 31.
Earlier this year, Abba Yusuf of Kano State and Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State also defected to the ruling party.
There have also been reports that Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, may defect to the APC.
Salihu said political survival ultimately depends on grassroots support rather than switching parties in anticipation of future elections.
“I often wonder why governors who won convincingly under their parties rush to join the ruling party,” he said. “Politicians sometimes forget the forces and support that first brought them to power.”
