In Nigerian politics, there is a common belief that once a party controls a state government, it automatically controls the votes of the people. Some even joke that governors possess “magic wands” capable of producing millions of votes at will. But the 2023 House of Representatives elections in Gombe State challenged that notion.
Despite being governed by the APC, five out of six seats in the green chamber were won by candidates of the PDP. That outcome demonstrated that voters are capable of independent judgment. It showed clearly that incumbency at the state level does not guarantee total dominance at the federal level. However, recent developments have shifted the narrative.
Two PDP lawmakers from Yamaltu/Deba and Dukku/Nafada federal constituencies have defected to the APC. Meanwhile, speculation suggests the remaining three PDP members may also follow. Defection is lawful in Nigeria’s democracy. Lawmakers often justify such moves as necessary for effective representation or better alignment with the ruling party. Yet, beyond legality lies the question of mandate.
When voters elect opposition candidates in a ruling-party state, they are making a conscious choice. They are balancing power. They are expressing preference. A post-election change of platform inevitably raises concerns about the spirit of that mandate.
The 2023 results in Gombe already disproved the myth that governors “own” fixed votes. The electorate proved otherwise. Votes were cast independently.
Now, the unfolding defections introduce another reality, power attracts alignment. But power is dynamic. It shifts. It rotates.
Today’s ruling party may not remain tomorrow’s. Political advantage is never permanent. For the remaining three PDP lawmakers, this moment calls for careful reflection. Political calculations are understandable, but constituents are watching. In an era of heightened political awareness, voters remember.
Nigeria is also a deeply spiritual society. Many believe that leadership is ultimately ordained by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. Political parties may serve as platforms, but destiny is not confined to any one structure. If a mandate is genuinely earned through grassroots trust, it can manifest under any platform, if it is divinely written.
The events in Gombe offer a simple lesson, governors do not manufacture votes, and parties do not permanently own power. In the end, authority rests with the people, and ultimately with the will of Allah.
