George Moghalu, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in last November’s Anambra State election, has called for state governors who defect from their political parties to lose their seats, arguing that their mandates should not be transferable to a new party.

In an interview with Vanguard, Moghalu, a founding chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said such defections undermine democracy.

He explained:

“If you check, the ballot paper bears the name of the party, not just the candidate. The people are voting for the party. So, if someone is elected on one platform and decides to move to another party, it is morally wrong to carry the people’s mandate with them without their consent. The only way to get that consent is to return the mandate to the electorate through a fresh election.”

Moghalu stressed that voters have the right to determine whether they want their elected official to continue under a new party or remain loyal to the original platform.

On the recent defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Moghalu said his relationship with Obi is personal and that Obi’s decision is entirely his own. He also noted that he is still consulting his supporters and stakeholders before making any moves regarding his political alignment.

“I cannot make a decision in isolation. I have been consulting extensively with my critical supporters and stakeholders, and I will announce my next step after completing these discussions,” he said.

Moghalu’s remarks highlight ongoing debates in Nigeria about the ethics of party defections and the legitimacy of mandates in a multi-party democracy.