Renowned public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s political landscape, declaring that the nation’s politics has been reduced to a profit-driven enterprise.

Speaking in a press interview on Tuesday, Shehu expressed deep concern that the current political structure offers little to no hope for genuine democratic progress.

Shehu questioned the ideological foundation of Nigeria’s political system, arguing that political parties have become mere labels, lacking any real distinction in values or policies.

“There is only one party in Nigeria. And it’s always the ruling party,” he said.

“Once elections are over, politicians simply defect to the ruling party. We saw this when the PDP lost and many of its members moved to the APC.”

He stressed that most political actors in the country operate with the same mindset and personal interests, regardless of party affiliation.

“These politicians are the same, same background, same mindset. The ordinary citizens are just pawns,” he added.

Shehu encouraged Nigerians not to give in to political apathy, stating that doing so will only haunt them afterwards.

“Go out and vote, do your part and leave the rest to God. But if you refuse to vote and later start blaming the leaders, it will only come back to haunt you,” he advised.

The activist warned against the illusion of choice in a political structure he believes is dominated by personal gain rather than public service.

His remarks come amid growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians over governance, rising defections, and lack of ideological clarity within major political parties.