Nigeria, Oct. 20 -- There is something about the recent defections of Governors Peter Mbah and Douye Diri that should interest us. Each was, in a way, provoked by the enfant terrible of present-day Nigerian politics, Nyesom Wike, into taking the precipitate step.

Let us begin with the Peter Mbah scenario. We are familiar with the Nyesom Wike tactics in his relationship with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since he joined forces with Bola Tinubu in the race for the 2023 presidential struggle. We are also familiar with the fact that Wike fell apart with the PDP when he failed in his manoeuvres to be chosen as the vice presidential candidate of the party in that election. Having been shoved aside by the Atiku Abubakar presidential ticket...