The Bigger Political Picture
Political defections are not unusual in Nigeria, but they often generate debate when prominent campaign figures publicly abandon one movement for another. The latest example involves Isaac Balami, a former Deputy Campaign Manager of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign, whose explanation for returning to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reignited discussions about political loyalty, governance performance and the reasons politicians reconsider their positions.
Rather than simply announcing his return to the APC, Balami has offered a detailed explanation of why he believes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed some of the concerns that originally pushed him out of the ruling party. This broader political context makes the story about more than a party switch—it reflects how political actors reassess governments after elections.
Story In Context
Isaac Balami was among the notable political figures who left the APC in September 2022 to support the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement during the 2023 presidential election.
At the time, he cited two principal concerns: the APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket and what he viewed as the marginalisation of certain ethnic and religious groups, particularly minority Christian communities in Northern Nigeria.
Nearly two years later, Balami returned to the APC, attributing his decision to the Labour Party’s prolonged internal leadership crisis and what he considered the party’s inability to provide a viable political alternative.
His latest interview represents his most detailed public defence of that decision, offering insight into the political calculations behind his return while responding to criticism from members of the Obidient Movement.
Balami Says Tinubu Changed His Earlier Perception
Former Obi-Datti presidential campaign deputy manager Isaac Balami says his political assessment of President Bola Tinubu has changed significantly since the 2023 presidential election, insisting that some of the issues which informed his opposition to the APC have evolved under the current administration.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Balami acknowledged that he had openly criticised Tinubu throughout the election period but now believes the President has demonstrated progress on matters he once considered major concerns.
According to him, changing his position was not a sign of inconsistency but a response to what he describes as changing political realities.
He argued that politics should allow room for individuals to review their opinions when circumstances change rather than remain permanently tied to previous campaign positions.
Why He Walked Away From The Obidient Movement
Balami explained that remaining within a political movement should depend on whether it still offers a realistic future for its members and supporters.
He maintained that after the presidential election, he became increasingly dissatisfied with developments inside the Labour Party and concluded that the platform no longer reflected the political direction he believed Nigeria required.
Without criticising his former principal directly, Balami suggested that events following the election reinforced his belief that remaining within the movement would not advance either his political convictions or his long-term objectives.
According to him, there was little justification for staying on a platform where he no longer saw prospects for meaningful political growth.
“The Person I Fought Proved Me Wrong”
Explaining the personal dimension of his decision, Balami said he had no difficulty acknowledging when an opponent exceeded his expectations.
Reflecting on his earlier opposition to Tinubu, he admitted that the President had altered his thinking on several of the issues that motivated his departure from the APC in 2022.
“Why should I remain in a place where I see no future, when the person I castigated, insulted and fought has proven me wrong?” Balami asked during the interview.
He noted that political maturity requires individuals to recognise when evidence challenges their previous assumptions rather than remain committed to positions that no longer reflect their convictions.
Responding To Critics Within The Obidient Movement
Balami also addressed accusations from some supporters of the Obidient Movement who viewed his return to the APC as a betrayal.
He rejected that characterisation, insisting that his decision to leave the APC in 2022 was entirely voluntary and came with significant personal and professional sacrifices.
According to him, political choices should not be interpreted differently simply because an individual later decides to return to a former party.
He argued that the APC accepted his departure without hostility and questioned why some of his former political associates have been unwilling to extend the same understanding following his return.
He Says Leaving APC Came At A Personal Cost
Seeking to counter suggestions that his political decisions were motivated by personal benefit, Balami recounted the circumstances surrounding his departure from the APC before the 2023 elections.
He disclosed that he walked away from opportunities and business interests that could have remained available to him had he chosen to stay within the ruling party.
Balami also recalled that he accepted responsibilities within the Obi-Datti campaign after being approached by political leaders from Nigeria’s Middle Belt rather than because he was seeking government appointments or contracts.
According to him, those decisions reflected personal conviction at the time, making his eventual return to the APC equally a matter of personal conviction rather than political convenience.
Balami Defends Return To APC, Says Political Choices Should Not Be Criminalised
Responding to criticism over his return to the ruling party, Balami insisted that political defections should not be judged differently depending on which party an individual joins or leaves.
He argued that democratic politics naturally allows politicians to reassess their positions, particularly when circumstances within a party change or expectations are no longer being met.
According to him, his contributions to the Obi-Datti presidential campaign were never hidden from the public, making suggestions that he lacked commitment to the movement unfair.
He maintained that his political record remains publicly available and challenged critics to examine the role he played before questioning his sincerity.
“The role I played is available online. You can Google my name; you saw the passion and the commitment. Today, if I have a fallout or things are not the way I expected, and I go back to the APC where I come from, the same way the APC took it when I went to another party, why is the other side not taking it?” he asked.
Balami said he is yet to receive what he considers a convincing answer to that question.
Revisiting The Reasons Behind His 2022 Exit
While defending his latest political decision, Balami also revisited the concerns that originally prompted him to leave the APC before the 2023 presidential election.
According to him, two issues dominated his thinking at the time.
The first involved his concerns as a Christian from Borno State over attacks on Christian communities, while the second related to what he believed was the marginalisation of minority ethnic nationalities within Nigeria’s political structure.
Those concerns, he explained, formed the foundation of his decision to support the Labour Party and the Obi-Datti presidential ticket during the election.
However, he argued that political decisions should remain open to review whenever governments take steps that substantially address previously identified concerns.
Why Balami Believes Circumstances Have Changed
Balami said his return to the APC followed what he described as noticeable changes under the Tinubu administration.
Although he acknowledged that no government achieves every objective perfectly, he argued that some of the issues that influenced his earlier opposition have shown measurable improvement.
According to him, minority communities in Northern Nigeria now receive greater attention than they previously did, particularly in discussions surrounding governance and national inclusion.
He also pointed to policies and initiatives introduced by the current administration which, in his opinion, demonstrate efforts to address concerns that once caused him to abandon the ruling party.
Rather than claiming that every challenge has disappeared, Balami maintained that the direction of government had changed enough to warrant a reassessment of his earlier political position.
Programmes He Says Influenced His Decision
Explaining why he believes his previous criticisms no longer carry the same weight, Balami cited several initiatives introduced under President Tinubu’s administration.
Among the developments he referenced were:
- Greater recognition of minority communities in Northern Nigeria.
- The implementation of local government autonomy.
- The recruitment of forest guards to strengthen local security.
- Increased efforts to include previously marginalised groups in governance.
He presented these developments as examples of policies that convinced him the administration was making progress on issues he once considered fundamental.
Balami stressed that while the reforms may not represent complete solutions, they reflect movement in a direction he believes deserves recognition.
Admitting An Opponent Can Be Right
A recurring theme throughout Balami’s remarks was the argument that politics should not prevent individuals from acknowledging positive developments when they occur.
He said there is nothing unusual about admitting that a political opponent has exceeded expectations, particularly when the facts appear different from earlier assumptions.
According to him, remaining permanently opposed to an administration despite changing realities would amount to placing political loyalty above personal conviction.
For that reason, he insisted that his decision to return to the APC should be viewed as an honest reassessment rather than an act of political opportunism.
Beyond One Politician’s Decision
Balami’s explanation extends beyond his personal political journey and touches on a broader issue within Nigeria’s democratic landscape.
His remarks raise questions about how political defections are perceived by supporters of different parties and whether politicians should be judged more by the reasons they provide than by the act of changing political affiliation itself.
They also reflect the continuing competition between Nigeria’s major political parties to retain influential figures after election cycles, particularly those who played visible roles during presidential campaigns.
Whether his explanation convinces supporters or critics, Balami’s comments contribute to the wider conversation about political loyalty, governance performance and the evolving nature of party politics in Nigeria.
Looking Ahead
Balami’s latest remarks are likely to remain part of ongoing political discussions surrounding defections ahead of future elections, especially as parties continue repositioning themselves and influential political figures reassess their alliances.
His comments also underline the role that governance performance, party stability and leadership perception can play in shaping political realignments after a national election.
As political activities continue across the country, his decision is expected to remain a reference point in debates about party loyalty, ideological consistency and the changing dynamics of Nigerian politics.
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