Defections: Governors Who Switch Parties Should Lose Their Seats — Moghalu
Labour Party governorship candidate in the November 2025 Anambra State election, George Moghalu, has argued that state governors who defect from the political parties on which they were elected should automatically lose their seats, insisting that electoral mandates are not transferable to another platform.
Moghalu made the assertion in an interview with Vanguard, where he warned that democracy is endangered by what he described as one-way defections by elected office holders.
The former founding chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said voters elect political parties, not individuals, making it morally wrong for elected officials to move mandates to another party without fresh consent.
He said, “Yes. There is nothing wrong with that. We are talking about being elected on a particular platform. Because if you check, the ballot papersyou have today does not bear the name of the candidate. It bears only the name of the party. And what the people are voting for is the party.
“Though represented by Mr A or Mr B, it is the party. So, if now, for example, George Mogalu is elected on this platform, and for a lot of reasons, which is personal to me, I decide to defect from that particular political party that elected me and go to another political party, morally speaking, I cannot justify taking the mandate of the people to another platform without getting their consent, and the only way you can get their consent for them to endorse your action is by subjecting their mandate to an election. Throw it back to the people.
“Vote for this platform because I am going there, and if the people now vote for this platform, it becomes a matter of you. If they insist on where you are living, it becomes a matter of the party. And since nobody can elect himself into office, the people have the right to say where they want you to go. It is not morally justifiable for you to take another person’s, another people’s mandate to another platform. So that is my position.”
On speculation that he may defect to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, following the recent move by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, Moghalu said no decision had been taken.
He said, “I have a personal, very close relationship with His Excellency, Peter Obi. His decision to move to ADC is actually his. And for me, what I have been doing since these holidays up to the day before yesterday is consulting. I am a politician who tries as much as I can within the limits of possibility to go with people I have respect for, people I relate with.
“Before I made the decision to leave APC, I consulted widely. Before I made the decision to join the Labour Party to run for the election, I consulted widely. And now that the elections are over, I am still consulting.”
Moghalu added that he was engaging stakeholders and supporters before making any move.
He said, “And the moment I finish my consultations, because I must consult even those who left with me, I can’t just wake up and make a decision without involving them. On the 4th January, for example, I had a very large meeting of my critical supporters and critical stakeholders. We discussed this issue extensively. Yesterday, I met with a group that discussed this issue. Today, I am having a dinner appointment with two very critical players. I am also discussing this issue.”
He concluded that his final decision would be made public after consultations.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
