WHEN THE PARTY BECOMES SUPREME AND THE PEOPLE BECOME SLAVES
By: Ejiroghene Ibuakevwe
In Nigerian politics, few expressions are as frequently abused as “the party is supreme.” Originally intended to promote party discipline, the slogan has become a convenient instrument for suppressing dissent, shielding political leaders from criticism, and demanding unquestioning loyalty from citizens whose welfare should be the primary concern of government. Under this arrangement, the party becomes more important than the people, political leaders become increasingly insulated from accountability, and ordinary Nigerians are left to bear the consequences of poor governance.
But the fundamental question remains: supreme over whom and for what purpose? Can a political party claim supremacy over the welfare of the people, the demands of justice, or the responsibility of government to provide security and economic opportunity? Parties are established to serve the public through democratic governance, not to demand allegiance while citizens struggle to survive. When loyalty to a political organisation takes precedence over the common good, democracy becomes a tool for preserving political power rather than improving human lives.
Across Nigeria, political loyalty is increasingly demanded without a corresponding demonstration of competence. Citizens are expected to defend their preferred parties regardless of rising living costs, unemployment, insecurity, and deteriorating purchasing power. Party faithful are told to remain steadfast, defend the government, and dismiss criticism as opposition propaganda. Yet those making these demands are often far removed from the economic realities confronting ordinary households.
This contradiction exposes the hollowness of a politics built on slogans rather than performance. Citizens are asked to endure hardship in the name of economic reform, exercise patience when promises are unfulfilled, and demonstrate loyalty when living conditions deteriorate. As elections approach, the same political actors return with fresh promises, expecting the electorate to renew their mandate without a serious assessment of their record.
The party in power must answer straightforward questions. Are Nigerians better able to afford food and essential services? Are meaningful employment opportunities expanding? Is electricity becoming more reliable? Are public hospitals and schools delivering better services? Are citizens safer, and are public resources being managed transparently? These are the standards by which a government should be judged.
Yet some party loyalists have reduced politics to defending their leaders at all costs. They treat criticism as betrayal, attack those who demand accountability, and place the survival of their political platform above the interests of their communities. This mentality is dangerous because it rewards mediocrity, discourages honest debate, and allows political leaders to escape the consequences of their decisions. Loyalty becomes a liability when it prevents people from distinguishing between the interests of a party and the welfare of the nation.
True party loyalty should never require citizens to abandon their conscience. A responsible party member should be willing to question policies that harm the public and challenge leaders who fail to fulfil their obligations. Constructive criticism is not sabotage; it is an essential feature of a functioning democracy. Parties that punish dissent rather than learn from it gradually become more concerned with protecting their image than correcting their failures.
No political party owns Nigeria, and no party has a permanent entitlement to govern. Political organisations are vehicles for public service, not institutions to which citizens owe lifelong obedience. The authority to govern is entrusted through elections and can be withdrawn when those entrusted with it fail to meet reasonable public expectations.
As another election approaches, Nigerians must resist attempts to secure their votes through emotional manipulation, party slogans, and appeals to blind loyalty. Political support should be earned through credible policies, demonstrated competence, integrity, and tangible improvements in living conditions. Those seeking another mandate must account for their achievements, acknowledge their shortcomings, and explain how they intend to address the problems confronting the people. The electorate must be prepared to distinguish between promises made for political convenience and commitments supported by evidence and realistic plans.
The truth is simple: party loyalty cannot put food on an empty table, provide jobs for unemployed graduates, reduce the burden on struggling families, or guarantee access to quality healthcare and education. These responsibilities belong at the centre of governance, not at the margins of political debate.
The party is not supreme; the people are. A political organisation that demands unquestioning allegiance while neglecting the welfare of citizens misunderstands the purpose of democracy. Public office is a responsibility, not a privilege to be defended indefinitely, and electoral victory is a mandate to serve, not permission to govern without accountability. Until the electorate places performance above propaganda and public welfare above party loyalty, politicians will continue to exploit the language of supremacy while ordinary Nigerians bear the cost of political failure.
The time has come to reverse this misplaced hierarchy. Political parties must answer to the people, governments must account for their performance, and citizens must never be made to feel that questioning their leaders is an act of disloyalty. No party is greater than the people it claims to represent, and no government deserves another mandate simply because it demands one.
Ejiroghene Ibuakevwe
B.Sc. (Hons) Political Science,
M.Sc. Peace, Security and Development Studies, Immediate Past President General, Edjeba Community, Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State.
