By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended individuals and institutions including the six presidential candidates and the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) for their efforts towards actualising a peaceful and seamless transition of leadership in the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

He gave the commendation during a stakeholders meeting at the weekend in Government House, Yenagoa, where all the candidates gunning for the INC presidency agreed to withdraw all subsisting litigations concerning the Ijaw National Congress election.

Senator Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, also expressed gratitude to the Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Bolade Igali, the Chairman and members of the INC National Electoral Committee and other stakeholders who contributed to the resolution reached at the meeting.

Drawing an analogy from the scriptures, particularly First Kings Chapter 3, he likened the unanimous agreement of the candidates to withdraw all pending court cases to the decision of the true mother of the disputed baby who pleaded with King Solomon not to cut the child into two.

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the resolution reflects the enthusiasm, love and patriotic fervour in all the presidential candidates to move Ijaw nation forward.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the candidates including High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwe who secured the injunction from a Port Harcourt High Court stopping the INC Elections billed for last weekend, confirmed the agreement and pledged commitment towards the peaceful emergence of the next President of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization.

Also speaking, the President of Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba , expressed delight at the outcome of the meeting, pointing out that the resolution would enable the National Executive Council of the INC and other critical stakeholders to settle all grey areas within the 30-day window given by the convention.

He said: “Today is a culmination of several efforts being made by myself and some members of the INC Exco to ensure that the transition moves on smoothly, and we will get to the appropriate destination.

“The meeting which was convened by His Excellency, the Governor of Bayelsa State in his capacity as the Governor General of the Ijaw nation was very productive. All the six presidential candidates were in attendance and have agreed to withdraw all court cases.

‘I want to assure you that we are going to explore the 30-day window given to us by the Convention to ensure that the election holds. All appropriate organs of the INC will start work immediately, while we monitor the processes of the withdrawal.’

In attendance at the meeting were all the INC presidential candidates, the Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali, the Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Chief Godspower Oporomor, his Information counterpart, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the Chairman of Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers and CITRE, His Royal Majesty King Bubaraye Dakolo, the Chairman, INC Electoral Committee, Retired Supreme Court Justice Francis Tabai, his vice and the Pere of Tarakiri Clan, Dr Seiyifa Koroye, among others.

By Amb. Anderson Osiebe.

Nigeria’s political landscape has once again been stirred by controversy following the criticism trailing the recent defection of Enyinnaya Abaribe to another political party outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The backlash has raised fundamental questions about political tolerance, democratic fairness, and the apparent double standards in the reactions of the ruling party when lawmakers switch political allegiances.

For years, Nigeria’s political arena has witnessed a steady flow of opposition lawmakers defecting to the APC. In many cases, these defections were celebrated by the ruling party, welcomed with fanfare, and presented as proof of the APC’s growing political dominance.

Governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and even entire political structures have crossed over to the ruling party with little resistance.
However, the reaction to Senator Abaribe’s defection appears to tell a different story.

Senator Abaribe, a prominent figure known for his outspoken positions in the National Assembly, recently chose to align himself with another political platform (ADC) outside the APC. Rather than being treated as a routine democratic choice, his move has reportedly attracted criticism and discomfort from some voices within the ruling party.

Observers say this reaction highlights a troubling inconsistency in Nigeria’s political culture.

In a democratic system, freedom of association remains a core constitutional right. Political actors are expected to freely join or leave parties based on ideological alignment, political strategy, or the interests of their constituents.

Yet, critics argue that in Nigeria, defections are often celebrated only when they strengthen the ruling party but condemned when they weaken it.

Analysts note that the APC has historically benefited from high-profile defections since coming to power in 2015. Lawmakers from opposition parties have frequently moved to the ruling party without facing serious institutional or moral backlash from APC leaders.
These movements were often framed as evidence that the ruling party offered a better platform for governance and national development.

However, the criticism and attacks directed at Abaribe’s departure raises concerns about whether political actors are genuinely committed to democratic principles or merely supportive of defections when they serve their political advantage.

Political commentators say democracy must be consistent. If defections are considered legitimate when opposition lawmakers join the ruling party, the same principle should apply when a lawmaker decides to move in the opposite direction.

Nigeria’s constitution recognizes the right of politicians to associate freely with political parties. While provisions exist concerning defection, particularly in relation to legislative seats, these clauses are often interpreted differently depending on the political interests involved.

Many Nigerians therefore view the controversy around Abaribe’s move as more political than constitutional.

Supporters of the senator argue that his decision reflects the independence that elected representatives should exercise in a democratic system. They insist that lawmakers should not be intimidated or pressured into remaining in political parties that no longer align with their convictions or the interests of their constituents.

Beyond the individual case of Senator Abaribe, the issue highlights a deeper challenge within Nigeria’s political system: the culture of opportunistic politics.
Frequent defections, often without clear ideological differences between parties, have weakened the credibility of Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. Critics say political parties must move beyond mere platforms for electoral convenience and develop clear policy identities that guide political affiliation.

For many Nigerians, the controversy surrounding Abaribe’s defection ultimately exposes the hypocrisy that sometimes defines political reactions in the country.

As Nigeria approaches the next electoral cycle, the handling of political defections may serve as a test of the country’s democratic maturity. True democratic culture requires tolerance, consistency, and respect for political freedoms, regardless of who benefits from them.

If defections are welcomed when they strengthen the ruling party but condemned when they empower alternative platforms, observers warn that such inconsistency could undermine public trust in the political system.

For now, Senator Abaribe’s political move has once again placed the spotlight on the delicate balance between political strategy and democratic principle in Nigeria’s evolving democracy.

Amb. Anderson Osiebe, Executive Director, HallowMace Foundation, Public Policy Expert and an Administrator writes from Abuja – Nigeria.

By: Amb. Anderson Osiebe

As Nigeria gradually approaches the 2027 general elections, conversations around power rotation have resurfaced with renewed intensity.

At the heart of this debate lies a fundamental question: Should the presidency remain in the South in 2027, before returning to the North, in the spirit of unity, equity, justice and national stability?

Nigeria is a delicate federation, diverse in ethnicity, religion and political history. Since the return to democracy in 1999, an informal but politically sensitive understanding has guided the distribution of presidential power between the North and the South.

This unwritten rotational principle has helped calm tensions, reduce suspicion, and foster a sense of belonging among Nigeria’s federating units.

From 1999 to 2007, the presidency was held by Olusegun Obasanjo (South-West). It shifted to the North with Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007, before returning to the South under Goodluck Jonathan.

Power moved back to the North in 2015 with Muhammadu Buhari, who completed eight years in office. In 2023, the pendulum swung again to the South with the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

So, if this has been the arrangement, why North in 2027?

Against this backdrop, proponents of equity like me, argue that 2027 should consolidate the South’s turn in the interest of fairness. If the North completed eight uninterrupted years from 2015 to 2023, justice demands that the South be allowed the same political stability and opportunity.

Beyond arithmetic fairness, the argument is also about national cohesion. Nigeria has endured deep political mistrust, sectional agitation and identity-driven tensions.

Abruptly truncating the Southern tenure in 2027 could reignite feelings of marginalisation and undermine the fragile trust the rotation principle seeks to protect.

Supporters also maintain that political stability strengthens economic confidence.
Investors and development partners prefer predictability too.

Sustaining zoning arrangements reduces electoral volatility and signals continuity.
However, the broader message is not about permanent entitlement, it is about balance.

After a completed Southern tenure, power can then justifiably rotate back to the North, reinforcing the spirit of give-and-take that sustains multi-ethnic democracies.

Ultimately, Nigeria’s democracy must rise above winner-takes-all politics. The survival of the republic depends not only on ballots cast, but on perceived fairness in the sharing of power.

In 2027, the test will not just be about who wins, but whether Nigeria chooses unity over division, equity over expediency, and peace over provocation.

This is where I stand.

Amb. Anderson Osiebe, Executive Director, HallowMace Foundation Africa, Public Policy Expert and an Administrator writes from Abuja – Nigeria.