Edet Ikotidem
In Nigeria’s political terrain, where power dynamics are fluid and party loyalty is often subordinate to access to resources, the fate of political stakeholders is frequently tied to the direction of the incumbent governor.
This is especially true in Akwa Ibom State, where the dominance of the ruling party has historically defined access to opportunities, funding, and political survival.
Political Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom Have No Choice
As speculations continue to rise about the possible defection of the Akwa Ibom State Governor from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a pertinent question arises: what happens to the political stakeholders left behind?
The answer, quite frankly, is that they may have no choice but to follow him.
Akwa Ibom, like many other states in Nigeria, is heavily dependent on government spending. The public sector is the largest employer, the main source of contracts, and the engine of economic activity.
Outside of a few private ventures, the state lacks strong industries or a vibrant private sector that could sustain political actors independently.
For many stakeholders, political engagement is their full-time job—and the government is their main client.
Most PDP loyalists in the state do not have sustainable businesses or industries that could keep them financially afloat without government backing.
Their livelihoods revolve around appointments, contracts, consultancy jobs, and constituency projects—benefits that flow from being in the governor’s political structure.
If the governor defects to the APC and takes the state apparatus with him, the PDP becomes an opposition party in name and in structure, with little or no financial muscle to support its members.
This stark economic reality is the first and most compelling reason stakeholders are likely to follow. They simply cannot afford not to.
The ability of a political party to function—pay staff, organize rallies, print materials, mobilize grassroots supporters, and run campaigns—depends heavily on funding.
In Nigeria, most of that funding comes from state coffers, whether directly or indirectly. Political office holders donate to the party. Appointees contribute from their salaries. Contractors give kickbacks. Aspirants underwrite logistics during elections. All these channels are connected to the party in power, which controls the resources.
Should the governor defect to the APC and take the machinery of government along, the PDP in Akwa Ibom will likely face a financial drought.
There would be no access to government funds, and no structured fundraising mechanism strong enough to sustain party operations at the level previously enjoyed. As a result, most stakeholders would not only lose personal income but would also be unable to fund their local party structures or remain politically visible.
For many, therefore, crossing over is not about abandoning their ideology—it is about political survival in a system where money talks and funding wins.
In a political environment as pragmatic as Nigeria’s, relevance is closely tied to proximity to power. A stakeholder who is not aligned with the incumbent governor or the ruling party in a state finds it difficult to influence decisions, gain appointments, or remain a significant player in national politics.
For PDP stakeholders in Akwa Ibom, remaining in the opposition after a gubernatorial defection would mean watching from the sidelines as former allies control the levers of power.
Furthermore, such stakeholders risk being marginalized within their constituencies, especially if local leaders and community-based groups begin to pledge loyalty to the new power center.
Also Read: Why Governor Umo Eno’s Exit from an Unstable PDP to APC is Commendable
Political godfathers and influencers often dictate the tone of local politics, and once they shift allegiance, those who remain behind are seen as outliers with little influence.
This could also affect their standing with federal agencies, ministerial positions, or board appointments, especially if the APC remains in control at the national level. The further they drift from the governor, the narrower their path to political influence becomes.
There is a herd instinct in Nigerian politics—when key leaders move, their followers naturally migrate. It is often seen as disloyal or even politically suicidal to remain behind.
For many stakeholders, staying with the PDP after a governor’s defection can be perceived as choosing a sinking ship. The fear of isolation, betrayal, and missed opportunities compels many to move—not because they believe in the new party, but because they fear being left behind.
Additionally, political culture in Nigeria rarely rewards loyalty to party principles over loyalty to power. Many stakeholders who remain behind when political shifts occur are eventually sidelined, labeled as “rebels,” and cut off from patronage networks. As such, most would prefer to realign early enough to secure a seat at the table, rather than risk being cast into the political wilderness.
Another reason PDP stakeholders may have no choice is the collapse of local political structures in the absence of central support. Ward chairmen, councilors, and local mobilizers are not ideologues; they are political businessmen who follow the money and influence. If the governor defects, local leaders are likely to switch sides en masse to maintain access to benefits and future relevance.
This grassroots shift will ultimately leave those who remain in the PDP politically stranded, with no loyal base to call their own. Campaigns become impossible. Mobilization dies. Support dwindles. The machinery that once propped them up falls apart.
It is important to recognize that this is not about loyalty to the APC or disloyalty to the PDP—it is a reflection of how power operates in Nigeria.
Ideological politics is weak. Survival politics dominates. People follow where opportunities lie. In many cases, the governor is the single most powerful political figure in the state. His word carries weight. His party determines access. His patronage defines relevance. When he moves, the system moves.
For PDP stakeholders in Akwa Ibom, the governor’s possible exit is not just a political event—it is an earthquake.
It shakes the very foundation of their survival and forces them to choose between loyalty to an empty structure or allegiance to a moving train.
For many stakeholders, remaining in a weakened PDP without the financial, structural, and grassroots support that the governor provides is not just risky—it is untenable. In the end, Nigerian politics remains a game of power, access, and pragmatism—and in such a game, survival always trumps sentiment.
