One of the issues that dominates discussions from time to time on the Nigerian political landscape is defection.

When elections draw near, our politicians "cross the aisle" or "jump ship" , to put it lightly.

A classic example is that of Ize-Iyamu of PDP Edo who moved to APC ahead of the coming gubernatorial elections in the state.

He was the candidate of the PDP in the last election and is now being touted as the flag bearer of APC in the coming elections, ahead of incumbent APC governor, Godwin Obaseki.

It is widely believed that defections of this nature do not happen in mature democracies.

Well, it looks like Trump has trumped all that!

Jeff Van Drew, House Democrat who opposed impeachment, will join Republican party

By Alex Rogers, Kevin Liptak and Jim Acosta, CNN

Updated 2147 GMT (0547 HKT) December 19, 2019
Former Democrat pledges 'undying support' to Trump


(CNN)President Donald Trump announced that Rep. Jeff Van Drew would join the Republican Party, a day after the New Jersey congressman and one other Democrat voted against both articles of impeachment.

Van Drew met with Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy at the White House on Thursday, but looked to have already made up his mind Wednesday night. He sat with Republicans before the historic vote, receiving handshakes and fist bumps from GOP members. He crossed his arms when House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff presented the Democratic case for impeachment. And he gave McCarthy's counter argument a standing ovation.

"I think they were very kind, very gracious, very nice, very supportive," said Van Drew about the Republican welcome on Wednesday night. "And I appreciated that."

Van Drew added that he thought Trump's chances of reelection "are going to be even higher" after the Senate acquits the President.
Democrats are moving quickly to keep the seat. Brigid Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University, announced on Monday that she would run and other Democrats are considering campaigns.

Lucinda Guinn, the executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, released a memo on Thursday showing that Van Drew's own polling suggests he'll lose in November 2020.

Guinn also argued that Van Drew is vulnerable in a Republican primary against businessman David Richter, since he has voted against Trump about 90% of the time. The congressman has a 100% rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and even endorsed New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker for president, who is now raising money for the eventual Democratic challenger. On Thursday, Van Drew pledged his "undying" support to Trump, and the President endorsed him.

"Republicans face a significant challenge holding onto New Jersey's Second Congressional District and Congressman Jefferson Van Drew's party switch does not improve their chances in November," wrote Guinn. "Beyond the vulnerabilities on display in his own internal polling, Van Drew's party switch has further weakened him as a candidate: he enters 2020 despised by Democrats, distrusted by Republicans, and likely viewed poorly by independents who watched him swap identities for political gain."

Rep. Tom Emmer, the National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, touted Van Drew's decision as "further proof" that the Democrats' impeachment of the President would flip the House next year. "This is now a Republican seat and we will fight tooth and nail to ensure it remains a Republican seat," said Emmer.

Van Drew has said that he's well positioned to keep his seat, claiming that about 70% of his district approves of him.

When asked on Wednesday if he had received any nasty comments from his Democratic colleagues, Van Drew said, "I'm sure there may be one or two that wanted to," but disputed that Democrats had turned their backs on him.

"We were walking back toward the elevator and somebody said 'gee, you must be the loneliest person in Washington right now,'" Van Drew said.

"The door opened up, two Democratic colleagues came out and gave me a hug."


https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/19/politics/jeff-van-drew-white-house/index.html

Typical comments about defection in Nigeria:

Enwhen:

Raymond Dokpesi don defect to the APC....


Hunger must give Nigerians sense oo

gidgiddy:


What APGA should do is give their ticket to a party loyalist, someone who has been with the party through thick and thin. Soludo is a well known defector who only ran to APGA when he lost out I'm PDP. This sort of man will win under APGA today and defect to another party tomorrow. If APGA should give the ticket of the only state they control to a known defector, that might be the end of APGA.

MASTERMIND04:
These politicians ehnnnn. Don't be surprised if you see him defect to APC in the next 3 years.

NOC1:
He thought that is NIgeria where you defect any how, he left his party for another party and lost.

Awoo88:
Oshiomole won use iyamu fight obaseki. The mumu sef no think before him begin defect

johnie:

One issues that dominates discussion from time to time on the Nigerian political landscape is defection.

When election draw near, our politicians "cross the aisle" or "jump ship" , to put it lightly.

A classic example is that of Ize-Iyamu of PDP Edo who moved to APC ahead of the coming gubernatorial elections in the state.

He was the candidate of the PDP in the last election and now being touted as the flag bearer of APC in the coming elections, ahead of incumbent APC governor, Godwin Obaseki.

It is widely believed that defections of this nature do not happen in mature democracies.

Well, it looks like Trump has trumped all that!

Politicians cross carpet in the US and UK. It's quite normal.

This was an issue when John Major was prime minister of the UK and his majority kept getting reduced either by people who switched parties or by people who became independent. I remember that a member of Congress also switched parties when Obama was president.

Many people might not know that one of the greatest Republican presidents ever, Ronald Reagan, initially started out as a Democrat. It was his wife that convinced him to become a Republican.

Also, remember the case of Richard Daley. Richard Daley was a famous political boss (what we call godfather) in Chicago. He determined who would get elected in Chicago. He served as mayor of Chicago and his son also served as Mayor of Chicago. His children served in the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Richard Daley was a democrat and everybody knew that he was a democrat. His association with the Democratic Party began in university, when several clubs that were associated with the Democratic Party gave him scholarships with which he paid his way through law school. However, many people might not know that Richard Daley won his very first election when he stood as a Republican. A Republican candidate had died and there was a provision in the law that allowed him to take the candidate's place, so he stood as a Republican. Of course he switched back to the Democratic Party soon afterwards.

nope their parties have ideologies

I found this reaction to Van Drew's defection particularly hilarious:


"I've heard of rats jumping off a sinking ship, but very few of them jump onto a sinking ship," Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee told CNN on Sunday. "Instead of having a congressman who's in the majority, and he gets something done for his district, they're going to have a congressman in the minority who can't get anything done. The lowest thing that there is in the Congress is somebody in the minority side who was a traitor to the majority."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeff-van-drew-new-jersey-congressman-to-switch-parties-and-become-a-republican-staff-members-resign/#x

Ahead of the recent UK general election, several members of Parliament from both the Conservative and the Labour Party left their parties and created an Independent Group for Change. However, none of them won re-election and the group was disbanded yesterday.

Yes.
Trump defected.

Trump was a democrat

naptu2:


Politicians cross carpet in the US and UK. It's quite normal.

This was an issue when John Major was prime minister of the UK and his majority kept getting reduced either by people who switched parties or by people who became independent. I remember that a member of Congress also switched parties when Obama was president.

Many people might not know that one of the greatest Republican presidents ever, Ronald Reagan, initially started out as a Democrat. It was his wife that convinced him to become a Republican.

dey cross carpet for ideas but Africa here it is because dey want to be close to the yam barns

Not just in Usa but everywhere in the world.. Though there defections are not based on greed like Nigeria politicians

There might be a case or two but not as proliferated and immoral as portrayed by our politicians here.

In all sincerity, d way politics is practiced in Nigeria and by Nigerians is totally against d principles and foundation of democracy itself. Politics is about ideology, about d way one believes government should be ran for maximum productivity for the people and d pride of the country. But in 9ja, we all know way most ppl run for office in d first place- for money.

In civilized countries, political parties hold ideologies- the sacrosanct motor, guide and believes of the party. from inception, one joins d party that aligns with his believes; maybe the democrat party or the Republican party.

In d UK, if one believes his party is failing to keep her promises or will not be able to fulfill his goals and aspirations, one can dump d party and be independent. I.e., most don't go to other parties but run for office on an independent platform.

naptu2:
Ahead of the recent UK general election, several members of Parliament from both the Conservative and the Labour Party left their parties and created an Independent Group for Change. However, none of them won re-election and the group was disbanded yesterday.

Something similar to saraki's nAPC.


I have always maintained that Nigerian politics have just slight different from that of the other words..... just that they are more accountable to their people!