As political alignments and defections gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, investigative journalist and National President of the Citizens Quest for Truth Initiative, Chief Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe, has urged Nigerians to stop attacking politicians and supporters who choose to change political camps.
Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe, in a recent Facebook post, argued that political realignment was a normal feature of Nigeria’s politics and should not automatically be interpreted as betrayal, hunger or desperation.
Her comments come amid intense manoeuvring among Nigeria’s political heavyweights ahead of 2027. The opposition landscape has witnessed a series of dramatic switches, with politicians moving between platforms as parties struggle to build alliances capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The political reshuffling has been particularly visible within the opposition. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar emerged as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate and was subsequently paired with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Meanwhile, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and ex-Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso moved into the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) camp after falling out with the ADC arrangement.
Against that backdrop, Ndukwe said it was unfair for political followers to be condemned simply because they decided to take a different route from their former leaders.
Writing under the theme “Politics of alignment and realignment happens from the top to bottom — leaders and followers alike,” she maintained that nobody should be treated as permanently tied to one political camp.
According to her, the purpose of leadership should be to help followers rise and contribute meaningfully to society, rather than keeping them permanently at the bottom of the political ladder and rewarding them with occasional favours.
She also argued that loyalty should not mean blind obedience, stressing that supporters could remain committed while still pursuing their own ambitions.
Ndukwe noted that Nigerian politicians had repeatedly crossed party lines without necessarily seeking the approval of their followers, yet supporters were often expected to remain silent and follow their leaders without question.
She rejected that approach, saying some followers would inevitably choose to chart their own course.
She further warned against the growing habit of branding politicians and supporters as “hungry” or “betrayers” whenever they abandon an established political camp.
For her, political choices should be judged on their merits rather than through emotional attacks.
Ndukwe also invoked the Igbo saying “Mgbe onye tetara n’ura bụ ụtụtụ ya,” which means that a person’s morning begins whenever they wake up, using it to argue that people should be allowed to change direction whenever they believe the time is right.
Her position echoes the broader turbulence already reshaping Nigeria’s opposition ahead of 2027. The ADC, which initially attracted prominent figures from different political parties, has experienced internal disputes, legal battles and further realignments.
The Court of Appeal subsequently restored the ADC and other affected parties after an earlier deregistration order, keeping the party in contention ahead of the elections.
Ndukwe said not every political move was motivated by financial gain, insisting that people could be driven by different considerations, including anger, ambition, conviction or a desire for a new political direction.
She therefore called for tolerance and an end to what she described as emotional blackmail in political discussions.
Her final message was couched in a popular Igbo proverb advocating peaceful coexistence: let the eagle perch and let the kite perch.
The message, widely understood as a call to live and let live, fits neatly into the increasingly fluid political atmosphere ahead of 2027, where old alliances are breaking apart, new ones are emerging and politicians are continually recalculating their next moves.
Don’t Miss Out! Join our WhatsApp Channel for instant news updates. Click here to join
ALSO READ:
