Veteran broadcaster and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Philippines and the Kingdom of Cambodia, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, has expressed deep concern over the growing wave of political defections into the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a dangerous signal that Nigeria is descending into what he termed an “insane society.”
Farounbi made this assertion while speaking as Guest Speaker on Boiling Point Arena, a monthly current affairs discourse hosted by media professional and PR strategist, Dr. Ayo Arowojolu.
The programme, which was held via Zoom, was broadcast live on six radio stations across Lagos, Ogun, and Delta states: WASH FM, Sweet FM, Roots FM, Eri-Nbe FM, Women Radio FM, and Kruzz FM.
The discourse was themed “Nigeria’s Democracy Under Strain: Party Defections, One-Party Dominance, Prostrate Opposition and the Future of Governance” and was chaired by the Olówu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola.
According to Dr. Farounbi, the increasing number of politicians defecting to the ruling APC is not driven by ideology but by fear, self-preservation, and coercion using state apparatus.
“The madness now going on in Nigeria will never happen in a sane society,” Farounbi said. “We are already in an insane society. Top political leaders are trooping in droves to cross the party line into the APC because the one at the helm is using state instruments like the Police, EFCC, and ICPC to hound them.”
He cited recent political realignments, particularly in Delta State, where an entire party structure—from the Governor down to local councilors—defected from the PDP to the APC without resistance.
“How can a whole structure of a party as it happened in Delta State move en masse without a single dissenting voice?” he queried. “It is simply because they are haunted by what they’ve done and are desperate to survive.”
Dr. Farounbi further alleged that many politicians are scrambling to align with the President in anticipation of political favours.
“They know the President will soon nominate a new INEC Chairman,” he stated. “They believe that by securing his endorsement, they can safeguard their ambitions for a second term—even if it means undermining the people’s will.”
He condemned the ideological hollowness of political parties in Nigeria, saying:
“In the First and Second Republics, political parties had ideologies that differentiated them. Today, they are all the same—no vision, no defined path.”
To curb the growing instability, Dr. Farounbi called for urgent constitutional amendments by the National Assembly to halt indiscriminate defections.
“Once any Governor or legislator defects, he or she should vacate office and return to the electorate for fresh mandate,” he suggested.
He also advocated for the restructuring of the EFCC and ICPC, accusing the agencies of abandoning their core mission.
“It’s laughable that while politicians are walking away with billions, our crime agencies are chasing those spraying Naira at parties,” he said. “EFCC and ICPC have lost it—they’ve hit ground zero.”
As a long-term safeguard for democracy, the elder statesman proposed allowing independent candidacy, even though he admitted it would be difficult to implement.
“Those in the National Assembly will never allow it—unless they are ready to commit class suicide,” he quipped.
