Former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Idi Farouk, has warned that political defections ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections will mean little if politicians fail to carry grassroots supporters along.
Farouk made the remark during an interview on Naija Unfiltered, a podcast by Symfoni, where he discussed the growing wave of political realignments and defections across parties as the next election cycle gradually approaches.
According to him, the trend of politicians switching parties should not be mistaken for political strength, stressing that electoral success in Nigeria is determined largely by voters at the grassroots level rather than by elite political movements.
“Defections without grassroots support mean nothing,” Farouk said, adding that many politicians who move from one party to another often fail to move their supporters with them.
He explained that when prominent political figures leave their parties for another platform, it does not automatically mean their followers will join them in the new party. In many cases, he said, the political structures and supporters remain where they were.
“Those people didn’t move with their people,” he said. “If a governor moves to another party but the political structure and the people remain where they were, what exactly has changed?”
Farouk argued that it would be politically misleading for any party to assume that a defecting politician instantly becomes a political leader in a new party simply because of his position or previous office.
He said such assumptions could weaken political parties if they overestimate their real support base.
“You cannot just move into a party and suddenly become the leader there,” he said.
The former public official also warned that parties preparing for the 2027 elections must focus on building genuine grassroots structures rather than celebrating high-profile defections.
According to him, strong community networks and loyal supporters remain the real foundation of political success in Nigeria.
He added that any party that relies solely on defections risks misjudging its strength ahead of elections.
“The party itself is shooting itself in the foot if it assumes defections alone will win elections,” he said.
Farouk also cautioned against the growing belief that politics is an “all-comers business,” noting that effective political leadership requires experience, strategy and long-term engagement with voters.
He stressed that many new political actors underestimate the importance of building grassroots relationships and understanding the dynamics of community politics.
“Politics is not something you just jump into because someone you know is already there,” he said.
His comments come amid increasing political maneuvering and speculation about alliances, defections and coalition-building among major political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers say such political realignments are common in the early stages of an election cycle as politicians reposition themselves for future contests.
However, Farouk maintained that while defections may attract public attention and media headlines, the true measure of political strength remains the support of ordinary voters at the grassroots level.
