The recent announcement by Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South, to defect from the Labour Party (LP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 12, 2025, has sparked intense debate across Nigeria.
The timing of his defection, amid allegations of his involvement in a $25 million fraud scheme linked to the FBI, raises serious questions about the motives behind his move and the broader implications for Nigeria’s political landscape.
Many Nigerians and political observers are increasingly concerned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to selectively target opposition figures while sparing APC members, fueling speculation that Nigeria is drifting toward a one-party system.
Imasuen’s Alleged Fraud and Defection
Reports circulating on platforms like X and in Nigerian media outlets, such as *GazetteNGR*, claim that Senator Imasuen fled the United States after being linked to a $25 million bank fraud scheme investigated by the FBI.
In 2010, Imasuen was disbarred from practicing law in New York following allegations of professional misconduct, including neglecting a legal matter for which he was paid.
Despite these allegations, Imasuen returned to Nigeria, won a senatorial seat in 2023 under the LP, and became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.
Now, citing internal disarray within the LP and a desire to align Edo South with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Imasuen is set to join the APC.
The timing of his defection has led to widespread speculation that Imasuen is seeking political protection under the APC’s umbrella.
Critics argue that this move mirrors a pattern where politicians facing corruption allegations defect to the ruling party, after which investigations against them often stall or disappear.
The perception is that joining the APC offers a form of immunity, with the EFCC seemingly reluctant to pursue cases against ruling party members.
EFCC’s Perceived Bias and APC’s Dominance
The EFCC, tasked with combating financial crimes, has faced accusations of being a tool of the APC to target opposition politicians while shielding its own members. For instance, high-profile defections like those of Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former PDP vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa to the APC in April 2025 were accompanied by claims that state institutions, including the EFCC, were used to coerce opposition figures.
In response, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede has denied these allegations, asserting that the agency has investigated and charged prominent APC members as well. However, public skepticism persists, as cases against APC-aligned politicians often appear to lack the same vigor as those against opposition figures.
Recent EFCC activities highlight this perceived imbalance. For example, the agency arrested socialite Fred Ajudua for a $1.43 million fraud and declared individuals wanted in connection with a N1.3 trillion cryptocurrency scam linked to Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX).
Yet, there is little public evidence of similar high-profile investigations targeting APC stalwarts, despite allegations of corruption within the ruling party. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claim at Yale University in November 2024 that Nigeria’s corruption ranking places it in the bottom 20% globally further fuels the narrative that systemic graft thrives under the current administration.
Nigeria’s Drift Toward a One-Party System?
The wave of defections to the APC, coupled with the EFCC’s perceived selective enforcement, has led to growing concerns that Nigeria is inching toward a one-party system. Opposition parties like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have accused the APC-led government of using state resources to coerce defections.
The PDP, LP, and NNPP have warned that the opposition is “bleeding” as prominent members abandon their platforms for the APC, weakening democratic pluralism.
Imasuen’s defection is seen as part of this broader trend. His public appearances with APC leaders in Edo State and meetings with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s aides as early as April 2025 suggest a calculated move to secure political relevance and protection.
Critics argue that the APC’s openness to absorbing defectors, regardless of their legal troubles, undermines accountability and encourages a culture of impunity. As one X user remarked, “Senator Imasuen, who fled the U.S…, to join APC… We shouldn’t deceive readers with an unclear headline.”
The implications are stark: if state agencies like the EFCC are perceived as extensions of the ruling party, public trust in democratic institutions erodes.
The opposition’s inability to retain members, combined with the APC’s growing dominance, raises fears that Nigeria’s multi-party democracy is at risk. The PDP and LP have called for electoral reforms and stricter vetting of public officials to curb this trend, but these demands have yet to gain traction.
Conclusion
Senator Neda Imasuen’s planned defection to the APC amid allegations of a $25 million fraud linked to the FBI has reignited debates about the EFCC’s impartiality and Nigeria’s political trajectory. While Imasuen cites strategic alignment with federal priorities, many see his move as an attempt to evade accountability.
The EFCC’s failure to visibly pursue cases against APC members, contrasted with its actions against opposition figures, fuels perceptions of bias and strengthens the narrative that Nigeria is sliding toward a one-party system.
As defections continue and state institutions appear compromised, Nigerians are left questioning whether true democracy can survive in a system where political allegiance seemingly trumps justice.
