By Mercy Gadia Adi
A member of the House of Representatives, , has defended his decision to defect from the African Democratic Congress to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, describing it as “democracy in action.”
Ogene spoke on Tuesday during an interview at his office within the National Assembly Complex, shortly after formally announcing his defection during plenary.
The lawmaker said his decision was driven by what he described as a shrinking democratic space in Nigeria, which, according to him, is being manipulated to favour certain political interests.
“For me, it is democracy in action,” he said. “Democracy is not something you pick up from the shelves. It is something you fight for, live for, and strive for.”
He argued that political actors must find alternative platforms where they can remain relevant when faced with restrictions.
“In an environment where the democratic space is being restricted by the powers that be, then the players ought to devise ingenious ways of remaining relevant,” Ogene added.
The lawmaker further alleged that several political parties in the country are currently entangled in “engineered legal problems,” which he claimed were designed to weaken opposition forces.
“We are all in Nigeria. Even the blind can feel what is happening. The space is suffocating. For the first time in Nigerian history, almost every political party has one or two engineered legal issues,” he said.
Ogene also alleged that there were deliberate attempts to destabilise opposition parties, citing comments he attributed to President and his aides.
“It doesn’t need anybody telling us who is behind it, and we all know the target of their shenanigans,” he stated.
On concerns about his pending legal matter and whether his defection indicated a lack of confidence in the judiciary, the lawmaker dismissed such claims, attributing his move instead to time constraints.
“It is not about lack of faith in the judiciary. It is about the reality of time constraints. The processes through the courts could take up to a year, and elections would have been concluded,” he explained.
According to him, recent provisions in the Electoral Act have also limited opportunities for candidates to switch platforms close to elections.
“So we have to devise a means to be in a platform that is unencumbered,” he added.
Addressing his constituents, Ogene said his political ideology and performance remain unchanged regardless of party affiliation.
“For a good football player, it is not the jersey that matters; it is the system at play. If you have the system, whether you wear blue, white, or black, you can still win,” he said.
He also referenced the growing support base of former Labour Party presidential candidate, , suggesting that political loyalty among Nigerians is increasingly driven by individuals rather than party structures.
“Not just my constituents, but Nigerians have said if Mr Peter Obi decides to contest on any platform, they will follow him,” he claimed.
Ogene further expressed confidence that the NDC would withstand any political pressure, insisting that attempts to destabilise the party would fail.
“They will try, but they will fail. Nigeria and the world are watching,” he said.