An All Progressives Congress chieftain, Abubakar Abdullahi, says politicians’ defection to a ruling party is usually informed by their ploy to dodge prosecution for corruption.

The APC politician also noted that there is no way defections can be avoided in Nigerian politics.

Mr Abdullahi, in Abuja on Tuesday, attributed cross carpeting by some politicians to a desire for political protection.

“You see, in Nigerian politics, defections cannot be avoided. There are certain issues that force people to defect.

“Majority of the present crop of the elected officials and political appointees are not well-bred politicians. They are just opportunists.

“Once they got elected or appointed, they indulged in all sorts of unruly behaviours which led them to commit a lot of atrocities,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi, the secretary of former ANPP members in APC, said most defections were to escape penalties for corrupt practices and other offences.

“Most of them will be running helter-skelter, looking for where to hide,” he said.

According to him, the majority of the defections are caused by selfishness and personal security rather than principle.

The APC chieftain, however, assured that defections would not lead Nigeria to a one-party state because at the end of the day, the defectors will betray those who believe in them.

Mr Abdullahi expressed dissatisfaction with the attitudes of political elites, saying that they have polluted the system through manipulation.

(NAN)