Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has stated that no Nigerian politician who frequently switches parties has ever attained the presidency.
In a social media post on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Omokri stressed that political consistency is essential for national stability.
He argued that Nigeria’s diverse political structure requires leaders with steadfast party affiliations, as frequent defections signal a lack of reliability.
“For 65 years since Nigeria’s independence, no politician who continuously jumps from one party to another has ever emerged as president,” he said, citing historical trends.
He pointed out that past leaders such as Tafawa Balewa, Shehu Shagari, Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan remained loyal to their political parties.
He acknowledged that while Muhammadu Buhari moved from ANPP to CPC before the APC merger, it was an organized transition rather than indiscriminate party-switching.
Similarly, he noted that Bola Tinubu’s progression from AD to ACN and eventually APC followed a natural political alignment.
Omokri cautioned that constant defections undermine democracy and lead to voter disinterest. “Nigeria is a complex nation that requires politically stable leadership. Those who keep defecting cannot bring unity but rather create apathy and instability,” he concluded.