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Behind the Defections: What Tinubu’s ‘Boys’ Are Really Up To Ahead of 2027

A fire is burning in the political realm, sparked by a flurry of defections. The source of this fire remains speculative. And in Nigeria, the more you see, the less you understand. Many are pointing fingers at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but that would be underestimating the true architects — his “boys.” Their relevance isn’t measured by noise but by results. If you understand Tinubu, you’d imagine him quietly observing and taking notes. He’s politically shrewd, if not outrightly arrogant.

 

Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince, argued that politics has its own rules, detached from morality. In Chapter 6, “Conquest by Virtue,” he wrote that leaders who rise by merit, not luck, rule with strength. Tinubu’s rise fits this mold. Emilokan wasn’t just a slogan — it was a declaration of a man who had fought hard for his place.

A friend once complained that Tinubu seeks a one-party state. I simply asked, “Is that unconstitutional?” He paused. Maybe it’s not about erasing opposition but realigning regional power. History is repeating itself. Contrast this with Chapter 7, “Conquest by Fortune,” where those who rise by luck struggle to retain power. That doesn’t apply to Tinubu. He had no godfather in the Buhari era and fought tooth and nail for the APC ticket.

Meanwhile, some politicians, cloaked in righteousness, are crafting coalitions for 2027. One even claimed, “We want to offer Nigerians a real alternative.” I chuckled. He might want to revisit Machiavelli’s sixth chapter. The “Prince” doesn’t owe loyalty to fleeting alliances. He makes few compromises. Politics is never about public interest alone. Nikita Khrushchev said it best: “Politicians promise to build bridges even where there are no rivers.” Chapter 18 of The Prince agrees a leader keeps his word only when it serves his goal.

As defections continue, Tinubu’s “boys” are on the move, making bold, strategic plays. What we’re witnessing may just be the early scenes of a dramatic build-up to 2027.

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