The recent decision by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to remove Sen Enyinaya Abaribe as Senate Minority Leader following his defection to the (ADC) has ignited a fresh debate about consistency and fairness in Nigeria’s political system.
What makes the situation particularly striking is the historical irony. In 2018, Godswill Akpabio himself defected from the (PDP) to the (APC) while serving as Senate Minority Leader. At the time, the PDP remained a structured and active opposition party, yet his defection did not trigger the kind of leadership sanction now imposed on Abaribe.
Today, however, Abaribe faces removal from the same leadership position after moving to the African Democratic Congress ADC.
The contrast raises a troubling question about double standards in political leadership. When rules appear to change depending on who is in power, public confidence in democratic institutions are deeply eroded. Democracy thrives on consistency, fairness, and institutional integrity, not selective enforcement.
Many observers believe that the strength of Nigeria’s democracy depends on leaders applying the same standards to others that once benefited from them. When political norms are applied unevenly, the message sent to citizens is that power—not principle—determines the rules.
For a democracy to endure, justice and political accountability must remain consistent, regardless of political convenience or partisan advantage. 🇳🇬
