Utomi, Falana, Ezekwesili Lead Battle Against Party-Hopping Politicians, ‘Defect and You’re Out”

A coalition of Nigeria’s most vocal civic warriors, labour titans, and political watchdogs has thrown down the gauntlet at elected officials who treat party-hopping as a sport: defect from the party that elected you—and you will be stripped of your seat.

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), spearheaded by political economist Pat Utomi, human rights heavyweight Femi Falana (SAN), former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, and ex-NLC President Ayuba Wabba, has delivered a blistering petition to the National Assembly, demanding immediate and sweeping reforms to rescue Nigeria’s “decaying democracy.”

The petition, dated December 10, 2025, brands the culture of political defections as a “plague” eroding public trust. The group is calling for the legal equivalent of a knockout blow: automatic loss of office and fresh elections for any politician who abandons the party that brought them to power.

“The political swamp has been festering for too long,” the coalition warned. “Governors and lawmakers roam freely from party to party, with the ruling APC as the chief beneficiary, while voters are left helpless and disillusioned.”

Utomi, Falana, Ezekwesili Lead Battle Against Party-Hopping Politicians: ‘Defect and You’re Out!’”

A coalition of Nigeria’s most vocal civic warriors, labour titans, and political watchdogs has thrown down the gauntlet at elected officials who treat party-hopping as a sport: defect from the party that elected you—and you will be stripped of your seat.

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), spearheaded by political economist Pat Utomi, human rights heavyweight Femi Falana (SAN), former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, and ex-NLC President Ayuba Wabba, has delivered a blistering petition to the National Assembly, demanding immediate and sweeping reforms to rescue Nigeria’s “decaying democracy.”

The petition, dated December 10, 2025, brands the culture of political defections as a “plague” eroding public trust. The group is calling for the legal equivalent of a knockout blow: automatic loss of office and fresh elections for any politician who abandons the party that brought them to power.

“The political swamp has been festering for too long,” the coalition warned. “Governors and lawmakers roam freely from party to party, with the ruling APC as the chief beneficiary, while voters are left helpless and disillusioned.”