If Our Votes Truly Counted, Politicians Wouldn’t Be Jumping Ship

As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, the political atmosphere has once again begun to heat up; not with policy debates or issue-based campaigns, but with the all-too-familiar spectacle of political defections. Governors, lawmakers, and political heavyweights are trooping en masse into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking refuge under the umbrella of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s influence.

The trend is neither new nor surprising. In Nigeria’s political space, loyalty to ideology or party philosophy has always been secondary to loyalty to power. What is alarming, however, is how brazenly politicians now switch sides without even attempting to disguise their intentions. It is all about survival — and not survival of ideals or the people’s will, but survival of personal ambition.

One cannot help but wonder: if our votes truly counted, would there be such desperation to align with the ruling party?

The mass defections ahead of every election cycle are a stark reminder of how fragile our democracy remains. Politicians cross from one party to another not because they have discovered new convictions or seen a superior manifesto, but because they believe, rightly or wrongly, that elections in Nigeria are not determined by the ballot, but by the backing of those in power. The fear of losing out in the “federal might” game drives them to abandon the parties that brought them into office in the first place.

This is an insult to the intelligence of the Nigerian voter. It implies that the people’s votes are merely ceremonial, that real political power lies not in the electorate but in the corridors of Aso Rock. The continuous exodus of politicians to the ruling party underscores a deep distrust in our electoral institutions and processes. It tells us that, for many in power, election outcomes are pre-determined, and that the easiest route to political security is through proximity to the presidency.

True democracy thrives on diversity of ideas, competition of visions, and the sanctity of the ballot. In countries where votes genuinely count, political parties grow through public trust, not through the recruitment of defectors. Leaders rise or fall based on performance, not patronage. But in Nigeria, political relevance often depends on whose table one dines at, not how well one serves the people.

The tragedy of this defectors’ culture is that it leaves no room for accountability. When a politician wins an election under one party and crosses to another for convenience, it betrays the trust of those who voted based on that initial platform. It weakens opposition parties, stifles democratic growth, and turns governance into a game of musical chairs.

If citizens’ votes were sacred, every politician would think twice before decamping. They would know that their fate rests not with the powers that be, but with the people who put them there. They would focus more on delivering good governance, strengthening institutions, and earning the public’s trust rather than currying favour from the ruling elite.

Until Nigeria reforms its political culture and truly empowers the voter, defections will remain the order of the day. Politicians will continue to chase power instead of principles, and elections will continue to be a contest of influence rather than ideas.

The day our votes start to truly count, the floodgates of defections will close; because then, every politician will realise that the only political capital worth pursuing is the people’s mandate.