Ladan Salihu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticized governors defecting to the ruling party, arguing that relying on President Bola Tinubu for political survival is neither a new strategy nor a guarantee of electoral success.
Salihu, a former Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, shared these views Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s The Morning Show. His remarks follow a wave of defections by state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Salihu observed that many governors now treat Tinubu as a “tin god” capable of securing their political futures, rather than trusting the grassroots support that originally brought them to office. He questioned the logic of abandoning parties under which they won convincingly, suggesting these moves are merely calculated maneuvers for upcoming polls.
“History does not lie,” Salihu stated. “We have seen political precedents where people defect, chasing what they believe is the ‘golden fleece,’ only for it to crash before their eyes. Remember, at one point the PDP had about 28 governors; that did not stop the party from losing to the APC.”
Recent defections include Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, who left the PDP in early March, bringing the number of APC governors to 31. Earlier this year, Governors Abba Yusuf (Kano) and Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) also joined the ruling party. Rumors also persist that Bauchi State Governor and PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman, Bala Mohammed, is planning a similar move.
Salihu maintained that true political survival stems from the same forces that first empowered these leaders. “I often wonder why governors rush to the ruling party after winning convincingly elsewhere,” he said. “The answer is simple: they forget. When the ‘second stanza’ beckons, they forget the Almighty God who gave them power and instead adopt President Tinubu as a ‘tin god.’ I am shocked by this brand of politics.”
