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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The continued defection of politicians across the country is hurting democracy in Nigeria, says the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA).
NPSA, in its maiden quarterly report on politics and governance, issued by its National President, Prof Hassan Saliu, bemoaned the defections, declaring that it is “frightening and alarming, lacking any modicum of decency and thus constituting breaches of the law.
NPSA, which recalled that it had earlier raised concerns about the defections currently being witnessed in Nigeria, stated that its implications for loss of opposition vitality and emergence of civilian dictatorship are real.
” While it is correct that the idea of defecting itself does not constitute a breach of the law, the manner in which the right is exercised in most cases has stood the law on its head. One of the conditions set by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is that it can only happen without repercussions if there are divisions within a political party at the national level. On a few occasions, the judiciary’s performance was satisfactory in matters of defection. Beyond the issue of law, what about morality: taking the electoral victory of one party and giving it to another party not initially favoured at the polls?
‘’The NPSA has previously warned about the implications of such defections on Nigeria’s democracy, including the potential for a one-party state and the loss of opposition vitality.
The other implications of these defections may include the abridgement of citizens’ rights, the emergence of a civilian dictator, and political instability.’’
The NPSA posits that broadening ideological horizons to reflect progressive values (not sloganeering) is necessary to address the underlying causes of the trend of defection.
According to NPSA, the parties’ lacklustre performance, whether in opposition or in power, is also a concern.
The statement in part ‘’Informed by material considerations, politicians have been jumping ship to the ruling parties, where access to the state’s resources is more guaranteed and protection against past misdeeds is assured.
‘’ This situation poses significant dangers to democracy in the country, particularly given the parties’ lack of ideological substance.
‘’As of the last count, eight state governors have publicly changed parties in the last one year. Seven of them have joined the ruling party at the Centre, bringing its total to 28 Governors out of 36.
‘’One other Governor has joined a minority party. Many members of the National Assembly and State Assemblies have also had cause to change the parties that elected them into the Assemblies.
‘’This turn of events has been fuelling the feeling among Nigerians that the country might be moving towards a one-party state.
NPSA attributed the defection to pressure coming from the ruling parties, more specifically from Villa.
It also added that in the Nigerian context, politics is driven by a lack of competing ideological considerations, especially the urge to belong to the Centre.
