Ondo APM senatorial candidate blames defections on lack of party ideology

By Boye Oyeyemi

The African Peoples Movement candidate for Ondo Central Senatorial District, Sunday Falae, has attributed the wave of defections by politicians across the country to the absence of clear ideological differences among Nigeria’s political parties.

Speaking with journalists in Akure on Tuesday, Falae said the recent movement of National Assembly members to the ruling All Progressives Congress was fuelled by political survival and weak party principles, arguing that politicians would find it difficult to switch allegiance if parties were driven by ideology.

He said, “Most of the abnormalities we witness in our political system would not happen if political parties were built on ideology. In countries like the United States, political parties are defined by what they stand for, making defections less common.”

The APM candidate also renewed calls for the governorship of Ondo State to rotate to the Central Senatorial District after the tenure of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, maintaining that the district, particularly Akure, has been denied the opportunity to produce an elected governor since the state’s creation in 1976.

According to him, although the current political season is focused on the 2027 National Assembly election, the demand for equitable power rotation should not be overlooked, noting that both the north and south senatorial districts have produced governors over the years.

“Even if the current governor secures another term, power should naturally return to the Central. Akure has remained the state capital for nearly 50 years without producing an elected governor, and that is unfair,” Falae asserted.

If elected, the senatorial hopeful promised to strengthen grassroots representation by establishing constituency offices in all local government areas within Ondo Central. He said the offices would provide residents with direct access to legal and legislative support throughout his tenure.

Falae also dismissed claims that the APC had already secured victory ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that voters would prioritise integrity, performance and grassroots acceptance over party affiliation, adding that his years of community development and youth empowerment had prepared him to deliver effective representation for the district.