By Suleiman Ibrahmi
These days, politicians jumping from one party to another doesn’t surprise anyone. It’s like changing clothes when the weather shifts. They do it smoothly, some even proudly, without a shred of shame. Watching them, you’d think defection is part of our national festivities. And while they’re quick to remind us it’s their constitutional right—which it is—that doesn’t make it right or free from criticism.
Let’s stop pretending. Most of them aren’t switching parties because of new beliefs or for the good of the people. They’re not chasing better ideas. They’re chasing power, money, and political survival. It’s not strategy—it’s desperation. It’s about staying close to whatever government controls the money.
Nigerian politics today isn’t about service—it’s about feeding personal interests. All those loud declarations and press conferences are rarely about the people. When a politician says he’s doing it “for the grassroots,” he’s really talking about himself. And once he settles into his new party, those “grassroots” are forgotten.
The real insult is the hypocrisy. Some of these defectors helped build the very parties they now trash. One former governor, who spent eight years preaching about reform and progress, recently jumped ship—again. He now claims the same party that gave him everything has lost its way. How convenient, now that he’s out of favour. But Nigerians aren’t fools. We remember.
Watching some lawmakers justify their defections is painful. They dodge questions and recycle the same tired lies. One even claimed he switched parties “for the good of his people.” Who still believes that? We’re no longer in the dark. This is the information age. We see through their stories before the interviews end.
If they want to switch parties, fine. But they should stop pretending they’re doing it for us. They’re not. Their loyalty is to power—not to the people.
Our democracy is still weak, and this constant jumping around only makes it worse. But even more damaging are the supporters who defend these moves. People who treat politicians like gods, even when they clearly don’t care about anyone but themselves.
It’s time we stop following names and start following values. Enough with worshipping politicians who keep playing us. It’s our job to question them, challenge them, and refuse to be used.
And to the politicians: we see through you. If you want to defect, go ahead. But don’t try to fool us. We’ve outgrown your press releases. If politics is just a hustle to you, then know this—we’re watching. And we’re done clapping for nonsense.
Real change won’t start with them. It starts with us. Because once the people stop being fooled, the game is over.
Suleiman Ibrahmi is a Kano Broadcast Journalist wrote this piece from Kano – Nigeria
