Kano defections amount to betrayal of mandate – Political commentator

By Joy Enamuna 

 

A political commentator, Eziokwubundu of Umuawulu, has described the recent wave of defections in Kano State as a betrayal of the people’s mandate and a development that undermines democratic values.

In a strongly worded commentary titled Politics Without Conviction, the writer argued that the mass movement of elected officials away from the platform on which they were voted into office goes beyond routine political realignment and strikes at the heart of public trust.

According to him, voters did not merely elect individuals but endorsed parties, symbols and promises, adding that changing political allegiance after securing victory amounts to abandoning the trust freely given by the electorate.

While acknowledging that the law allows defection under certain conditions, the commentator maintained that legality should not be confused with morality, warning that democracy is sustained by trust rather than technical loopholes.

He questioned who truly owns the electoral mandate when governors, lawmakers and local government chairmen defect en masse, insisting that votes belong to the people and should not be treated as personal property by politicians.

The writer also said the development carries political consequences for the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, arguing that the loss of party cohesion raises concerns about leadership strength and internal discipline.

On the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, the commentator said questions of legitimacy would inevitably arise when an administration elected on one platform discards it after assuming office.

He noted that the greatest impact of the defections is borne by grassroots supporters, including traders and youths, who invested time and belief in leaders only to be left disillusioned.

The situation, he warned, could further deepen voter apathy, as citizens increasingly question the value of participation in a system where mandates can be shifted without consequences.

Eziokwubundu concluded that although court processes may end, public judgment endures, stressing that history and future elections would ultimately hold leaders accountable for actions taken without conviction.