In the gloomy corridors of Nigeria’s political arena, where morality is an orphan and ideology is a myth, the recent wave of defections has once again exposed the rancid underbelly of our democracy. What masquerades as politics in Nigeria is, in fact, a grotesque display of opportunism by a class of individuals who have no fidelity to principles, no loyalty to the people, and certainly no shame. The gale of defections currently sweeping through the ranks of the opposition is not just a betrayal—it is treasonous to the hopes of millions who endure long queues under the scorching sun to cast their votes in the belief that their voice still matters.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is now deploying every trick in the Machiavellian playbook to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 elections. What started with the Edo State Governor’s sycophantic endorsement of Tinubu’s second term, followed by Akwa Ibom’s Governor Umo Eno's echo, reached a shocking crescendo with the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State—a state long considered the heartbeat of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But the ultimate slap on the face of democratic morality came with the betrayal by Ifeanyi Okowa, the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate in the just-concluded 2023 elections.
For a man who only a few months ago aspired to become the second-highest citizen of the land under the PDP platform, his cross-carpeting to the APC is not only cowardly but a loud confession of personal compromise. What, pray tell, was dangled before him? Was it a deal to erase the investigative footprints of anti-graft agencies? Was he bought for a price? And if so, what value does he place on the trust reposed in him by the people?
Let it be known: this is not politics. This is a grand bazaar of betrayal.
How do you explain to students of political science that in Nigeria, politicians do not defect out of conviction or ideological realignment but simply because they seek protection, power, or perks? Where else in the world does a vice-presidential candidate defect in under two years of an election that divided the nation and tested its fragile unity? Where is the honour? Where is the shame?
“Nigerian politicians don’t change parties; they change uniforms in the same army of looters,” a keen observer once said.
And truly, what we are witnessing is the collapse of party ideology, the bastardization of democratic ethos, and the absolute erosion of conscience in public office. The PDP, once heralded as the bastion of the opposition, has proven to be no better than the ruling APC—an interchangeable cartel of men and women burdened with moral leprosy.
Our political actors are not guided by principles or policy goals; they are driven by proximity to the feeding bottle of national wealth. There is no right or left, conservative or progressive in Nigerian politics. What we have are political scavengers floating from party to party like nomads chasing greener pastures—pastures watered with public funds.
And while the elite indulge in this unholy dance of defections, the masses watch helplessly as their dreams are looted in broad daylight. The power of the ballot remains their only weapon, yet it is often neutralized by electoral malpractice, voter suppression, and sheer manipulation by those who control the institutions.
Let no one be deceived: 2027 will not be a battle between APC and PDP. It will be a defining war between a conscienceless political elite and a population driven to the edge by poverty, insecurity, joblessness, and hopelessness. It will be the final contest between oppression and liberation.
And what has President Tinubu to show for his time in office thus far? Is it the collapsing naira? The rising fuel prices? The non-existent power supply? While Nigerians groan under the weight of epileptic electricity, the president has the audacity to budget N10 billion for an independent power supply in the Aso Villa. What leadership standard is this? Shouldn’t the president bear the burden of national failures instead of shielding himself from them?
This act alone is a scathing reminder of the chasm between the rulers and the ruled in Nigeria. The government has no intention of fixing the national grid—they are simply exiting it for personal convenience. That’s not leadership. That’s escapism. And it is, frankly, unforgivable.
Two quotes come to mind, both of which should echo in the minds of every Nigerian voter:
1. “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” — Plato
2. “A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” — Edward R. Murrow
These words should sear the conscience of every citizen who still believes in Nigeria. Our democracy is not failing because democracy doesn't work. It's failing because the players in our system are crooked, spineless, and addicted to corruption.
Let Tinubu and his spin doctors know: the die is cast. The era of manipulation, intimidation, and bribery will meet its reckoning. Let the people remember who sold their birthright, who abandoned them in the cold, who desecrated their mandate, and who made a mockery of their suffering.
Come 2027, may we find the courage to wield our ballots not as symbols of hope but as weapons of justice. May we vote not with sentiments, but with scars. Let those who crossed over for “a mess of pottage” be reminded that the people's conscience cannot be defected.
The revolution may not be televised—but it will be written in ballots.
Yusuf Abubakar Onumoh, PhD, is a Policy and Development Practitioner and public affairs commentator
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