So there we were, quietly sipping our garri and groundnuts, when suddenly a governor just “walked over” from PDP to APC. Another senator, many (dis)honourables and party faithfuls followed suit. The ruling party now resembles a magnet — one that silently attracts and yanks opportunists, defectors, turncoats, and political chameleons right into its fold. Welcome to the new episode of Nigeria’s never-ending political drama.
I once brushed aside a friend’s jab about my political allegiance (or lack thereof) by quipping: “This is a fight between Ashewos and Run-Girls. No need to waste energy decoding.” He, being curious and sharp, pressed: “Okay, but who exactly are the Ashewos, and who are the Run-Girls?” That’s the question I’d like us to explore—just now with fresher names, fresher chaos.
* The Ashewos and Run-Girls: It’s All Still the Same Old Theater.
In the original framing:
Ashewos = shameless, blatant, hard-sell politicians who don’t even bother disguising what they are. The “food is ready”, “where’s the food at” politicians. No scruples, no ethics, what can we eat…. that’s their ideology.
Runs-Girls = those who pretend to have other jobs or ideals but are still playing the same game the Ashewos play behind the curtain. Like the Surulere babe you pick up in Lekki one evening and she’s asking for N100k in the morning after forming “loving you”, eating and drinking on your bill the previous evening. But she’s not an ashewo o, she’s a runs-girl. She could be a sales girl, secretary or a “contentment creator” like Nero. 
Back then it was PDP vs. APC, mudslinging and mutual accusations of theft. They are thieves, we are not. They are incompetent, we are better. They have no plan, we do…etc But today, after a flurry of resignations and defections, the lines are blurrier than ever. The “APCPDPADPAPGA”….etc Even the witches don’t know which is which.
What’s changed with these new defections?
The APC, once the party that accused PDP of all sins, is now swallowing entire political blocs. It’s become a buffet, not a principled party.
The PDP, post-defections, looks like a shell, scrambling to patch holes, rebrand, or line up fresh candidates. They are useless, incompetent thieves but as repentant new members of our party, their sins are forgiven and ignored.
What once was painted as ideological war is now often just careerism and wanton greed seeking a platform that guarantees access to trimmings and lucre of governance.
So when someone “defects,” it isn’t a matter of heart or belief—it’s the same old survival instinct dressed in new colors.
The Dance of Defections: Who’s Buying, Who’s Selling ?
Let’s break down what’s going on in this grand marketplace:
Mind you, politicians have the right to join, defect to, resign from any political association they choose. We also have the right to analyse and write about their actions.
a) Governors and senators: The grand defections.
Those who once railed at APC from PDP platforms—suddenly align with APC. Their playbook? “I have the people. The people whispered. I must heed.”
Translation: “I see the leverage, I see the contracts, I see the access, let me protect/guard my ass”
b) Carry-over principles? Rarely
If you defected from party A to party B because B is “morally better,” ask yourself: did your principles, integrity and ethics come with you? In most cases, they were checked at the door.
The latest defectors carry with them their structures (vote banks, cadres, influence), but rarely their convictions.
c) Party fatigue is real
Voters are tired—tired of being sold the same story with new wrapping. Whether PDP or APC or that hypothetical third force, when the drama repeats, the weariness deepens. Yes, the weariness is deepening but we are wobbling and fumbling on, like the Super Eagles journey towards the next World Cup.
Ashewos vs. Run-Girls: Recast in the Defection Era
The categories remain useful, but the lineup has expanded:
Ashewo-Direct: No pretense. “Give me my cut openly, no lies.” These are traditional kingmakers, big money brokers, the brazen power brokers. The dyed-in-the-wool politicians.
Run-Girls with Ambitions: Those who marketed themselves as reformers, change-agents, and now quietly slip into the same dealing rooms.
Defector Hybrids: The “I was with you but now with them, don’t ask why” lot. Their loyalty is to advantage and patronage, not ideology.
Independents & Reluctants: The rare few who try to stay out of “party wars,” or step aside when the game gets too dirty. Can’t say if this tribe is increasing or decreasing.
The battle now is: who gets to claim the moral high ground? But when both sides dig in their heels with arms full of baggage, the moral high ground becomes a mirage. No party can come to equity with clean hands. They have all sinned and come short of glory.
At Whose Expense Does This Circus Run?
Citizens: Suffocate under broken promises, tax burdens, and half-finished roads.
Young and new aspirants: Either get absorbed (and silenced) or shut out entirely because newcomers are less useful to old hands.
Institutions: Judiciary, media, civil service—even NGOs—are pulled into the spoils and reward system, compromised by favoritism and patronage.
When a governor “defects,” it’s not just about party identity—it often means reworked contracts, altered budgets, new allegiances, and sometimes purging of opponents. The batons pass, but the burdens remain. A state’s colour literally changes from blue to red just on one individual’s whim. You get my drift?
*Can a Third Force Still Emerge?
Even with defections, the idea of a “third way” is appealing. But for it to work:
Idea > Identity: It must offer a cause, a clear agenda—not just a new name. Not any platform built on hatred or dislike for one/any individual.
Structures, not personalities: You can’t win with hero worship alone; you need grassroots, networks, accountability.
Legal & systemic reform: Allow independent candidacies, reform party financing, strengthen electoral laws, processes and bodies.
Consistency & patience: The biggest challenge is staying consistent long enough to earn trust.
Maybe we’ll end up with three lanes in Nigeria’s political highway: Ashewos, Run-Girls, and Independents (or “the virgins,” if you like). But we need to retool and redraw rules, fast.
My Take (Yes, I Picked a Side—but I’m Also Fed Up)
I still carry a membership card for one “Run-Girls Association.” Doesn’t mean I’ll descend to Ashewo status. No way.
If this theatrics continues, I might reboot as independent and walk off the stage. Because politics without ideology is religion without faith.
But more than walking off—I want politics that’s less about individuals, party loyalty, and more about citizen loyalty. A politics that actually speaks to us, not at us.
©Nero.