why did the mutinous sepoys in many places turn to erstwhile rulers to provide leadership to the revolt?

In order to fight the British rule, the sepoys gathered to gain leadership and organization. They turned towards various erstwhile rulers to force them to become leaders. First, the sepoys went to the Mughal emperor to ask him to become their leader. Then, in Kanpur, the sepoys made Nana Sahib a part of the revolt. Rani Lakshmi Bai also joined the revolt in Jhansi and in Lucknow, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was declared as their leader.