Dele Momodu, a former presidential aspirant within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cautioned President Bola Tinubu against placing unconditional trust in politicians who switch parties.
He urged the President to prioritize democratic principles and foster political freedom throughout Nigeria.
Momodu made these remarks on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s “Politics Today,” where he discussed the recent surge of defections from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in Delta State.
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His comments were prompted by the defection of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with commissioners and key PDP figures in the state, on Wednesday.
Reacting to the political realignments, the 64-year-old said, “I’m not surprised about it—it’s been under serious harassment in recent times; it’s nothing new. What would surprise me is if President Bola Tinubu truly believes people are joining the APC because they love him or because he is doing fantastically well.”
Issuing a direct message to President Tinubu, Momodu said, “My advice to Asiwaju is that he should not trust these politicians. Right now, everyone can see that he is determined to get a second term. God gave him the first term, not through coercion. I don’t know why he now believes he must secure a second term through it.”
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The PDP stalwart advised the president to remain committed to democratic values and avoid straying from them.
“My advice to him is simple: uphold our democratic tenets. Do not turn Nigeria into a democratic dictatorship. No matter what happens, you were a pro-democracy man before becoming president. Please, allow democracy to breathe in Nigeria. If you don’t, I can bet my life that later in life it will be deeply regrettable,” he said.
According to the Ovation International publisher, Dele Momodu, the current trend of politicians defecting is more about ensuring their political survival than demonstrating genuine loyalty to a new party.
“What people are doing now is a game of survival. Gone are the days when we used to boast that going to prison made one a martyr.
“We once admired the likes of Nelson Mandela, MKO Abiola, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for enduring detention in the name of principle. These days, nobody wants to go to detention,” he noted.
Momodu also claimed that many politicians have, at some point, been subjected to intimidation or scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.
“Everybody wants to stay at home and talk about the money they’ve made from politics. Name one politician who has not been harassed by either the EFCC or the ICPC at some point,” he said.
The former presidential aspirant characterized the current administration’s approach as relying significantly on the use of force or pressure.
“For me, it’s clear that this government’s strategy is: ‘if we can’t persuade you, we’ll force you’. And for now, that force appears to be working. But politics can change in 24 hours,” the journalist warned.
Momodu’s statements are made during a period of increased political tension, as significant defections continue to alter Nigeria’s political landscape in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
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