Defection Dilemma: Why Party Hoppers Risk Disqualification in 2026

Many politicians who switched parties after losing their primaries may find their candidacies challenged, even if their names were on new party registers by the INEC deadline. Claiming prior membership can backfire when they also purchased nomination forms, swore eligibility before screening panels, and took part in primaries under another party’s platform. Those deliberate acts may override any paperwork. Backdated resignation letters are weak evidence against their own conduct. Courts will weigh actions like buying forms and affirming membership during primaries more heavily than registry entries. Following the Supreme Court’s approach in the Uche Nwosu case, legal teams are likely to challenge several of these defectors at tribunals and appellate courts, arguing that their behaviour contradicts claims of party loyalty.

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