Defecting Without Direction: A Commentary On The #DefectionSaga

By Sir Divramredje Lawrence Efeturi, KSJI
Public Commentator

In recent days, the media space has been awash with speculation about a high-profile political defection. Reports suggest that the sitting governor, his immediate predecessor, and their large retinue of loyalists may be on the verge of switching allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC). As expected, this development has stirred heated debates, fueled excitement among party loyalists, and reignited old rivalries. However, as a concerned citizen and public commentator, I feel compelled to ask a sobering question: So what?

Political defection in Nigeria has become neither surprising nor strategic; it is now a ritual of convenience, devoid of ideology and driven purely by expediency. These constant switches have reduced our political landscape to a theatre of the absurd where actors change costumes but repeat the same tired script. The electorate, who should be the centre of all political calculus, are often left confused, disillusioned, and ultimately betrayed.

Let us be clear: this #DefectionSaga is not about the people. It is not about better policies, nor is it about advancing the development agenda of the state. It is, in the most unflattering terms, about political survival and the preservation of influence. For many of our leaders, loyalty is not to vision, values, or the public trust; it is to power and its privileges.

The sad truth is that we have normalized defection without direction. We have accepted that politicians can cross carpets repeatedly without accountability. Today they vilify a party they once embraced, only to rejoin it tomorrow with feigned conviction and no apology to the electorate. This shameless politicking sends a dangerous message: that power trumps principle, and that party lines are drawn only in sand.

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As a people, we must begin to demand more. Our support should not be for individuals who can win elections, but for those who can govern justly. We must shift our attention from who is moving to which party, to why they are moving and what they hope to deliver. We must reject the spectacle of political acrobatics and refocus on the need for real governance.

This moment calls not for celebration but for introspection. Are we building a democratic culture rooted in values and service, or are we reinforcing a system where loyalty to the people is secondary to loyalty to party patrons? The answer to this question will determine whether Nigeria’s democracy evolves or continues to regress.

Let those defect who must. But let the people remain steadfast in their demand for purposeful leadership. The colour of the party cloth matters little if it continues to cover the nakedness of failed governance.

Let us not be distracted.