The politics of inherited power: Nigeria's endless occupation of office

The theatre of Nigerian politics, as always, offers a compelling, if often disheartening, spectacle. This week, our attention turns to the state Houses of Assembly, the often-overlooked arenas where the health of our democracy is truly tested. The ongoing drama surrounding Desmond Elliot in the Surulere constituency, Lagos, serves as a potent symbol of a deeper malaise: the tendency for public office to become a form of permanent residency rather than a service.

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Must power become a lifelong destination?

Elliot, once a celebrated thespian, has found himself a frequent target of online ridicule, yet he has navigated the treacherous waters of Lagos politics to secure re-election multiple times. This resilience, however, is increasingly being tested as political winds shift, and the question arises: must representation become an endless occupation? The Yoruba proverb, “Ṣé wọn rí ibi ẹ̀ mọ ibẹ̀ ni?”—Must power become a lifelong destination?—echoes the anxieties of many Nigerians who see politics morphing from public service into a struggle for personal survival and preservation.

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For too many politicians, politics is no longer public service. It has become survival.

This pattern of "inherited power" and political recycling is not confined to Lagos. It is a disturbing trend visible across the nation, including in Ogun State, where favouritism and carefully managed successions dominate the political landscape. The weakening of opposition parties further exacerbates this issue, granting the ruling party immense latitude and fostering an environment where political relevance is often "rented" rather than earned. As we look towards future elections, the fundamental question remains: if a constituency cannot envision renewal after a decade of representation, has democracy itself failed to invigorate its core?

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Politics, after all, possesses little sentiment. Loyalty is temporary. Relevance is rented.

From our vantage point at The Punch, we observe that while Western media might focus on election outcomes or policy debates, the deeper, more insidious issue of political longevity and the erosion of genuine representation often goes unexamined. This is not merely about individual politicians; it is about the very soul of our democratic experiment. The struggle for personal preservation must not eclipse the contest of ideas, and representation must be seen as stewardship, not ownership. The Yoruba perspective, deeply rooted in community and cyclical understanding, finds this endless occupation of power particularly unsettling, as it stifles the natural renewal that democracy requires.

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If, after more than a decade in office, a constituency still feels incomplete without one individual, then democracy itself has failed to renew its bloodstream.