Responsible democrats — those who care about the future of the country — do not abandon their principles in a rush for power. They do not compromise their beliefs or refuge in a camp filled with questionable motives and people whose loyalty is up for sale.
This kind of defection typically happens when individuals find refuge somewhere convenient to avoid punishment for crimes or political weaknesses. The growing practice of intimidation, backroom politics, and the oppressive use of state institutions to silence opposition signals danger for our democracy — a danger we can’t ignore.
Today, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labor Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are wrestling with their own crises — defections, political cowardice, a growing reliance on fraud — instead of focusing on delivering service to the people. The APC, a party that initially represented “change”, is now a mess, wrestling to retain power by employing unfair methods while disregarding the promises made to Nigerians.
Instead of honoring its promises from 2015 — promises about improving the lives of ordinary people — the APC chose deception, political witch-hunts, voter intimidation, and a systematic erosion of democratic institutions. The party’s grip on power under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a reflection of popular will but a result of political muscle and a flawed electoral process.
Meanwhile, the PDP — which fell from power in 2015 — finds itself battling internal division, weak resistance, and its own growing number of defectors who undermine its credibility. The PDP, just a few years prior, made many promises to reform the country, but fell short — clearing the path for the APC’s eventual takeover.
Today, the two parties are nearly indistinguishable — employing the same strategies, choosing loyalty over ability, and putting their own survival above the country’s future. The opposition, meanwhile, must reorganize and gather its resolve if it hopes to make a strong comeback in 2027.
Some view the way forward through the candidacy of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State under the PDP’s platform — a man who, by many accounts, stands a chance to redeem the party and bring back a people-centric, policy-oriented approach to governance.
The current ruling APC, meanwhile, shows all the traits of a party that is growing less democratic by the day — renaming its national headquarters after its sitting President, extending its own Convention Planning Committee, disregarding its promises, and employing strong-arm tactics against the opposition. This path cannot foster unity or peace.
Some say we are at a moment in our history more threatening than the first coup of 1966 or the civil war that followed — a moment when the country’s future hangs in the balance. The only way forward is for genuine democrats, patriots, and ordinary people to take a bold stand against further erosion of democratic institutions.
This means organizing, resisting voter intimidation, strengthening civic institutions, and choosing political leaders who care about the collective future instead of their own ambitions.
Where do we go after the APC exits power in 2027? The answer lies in our ability to unite, reform, and pursue a future forged by fairness, justice, peace, and opportunity for all — a future where the country’s resources are used for the greater good and not to consolidate power in the hands of a few.
