THE MASS DEFECTIONS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS: CAUSES, LEGAL IMPLICATIONS, AND THE WAY FORWARD

By Cletus Uwakina

Defection in Nigerian politics has become a recurring phenomenon, with elected officials frequently switching party allegiance, particularly from opposition parties to the ruling party.This trend raises concerns about the integrity of political institutions, and the commitment of politicians to political ideology.

In recent times, there has been a surge in mass defections, particularly among serving lawmakers and high-profile politicians.

This development calls for a critical examination of the underlying causes, the constitutional and legal framework governing party cross-carpeting, and potential solutions to curb the practice.

REASONS BEHIND MASS DEFECTIONS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

The reasons behind mass defections in Nigerian politics are deeply rooted in the nature of the country’s political culture as follows:

Personal Ambition
Politics in Nigeria is largely driven by personal ambition rather than ideology. Many politicians see political parties as mere platforms for winning elections rather than as vehicles for governance based on principles.

This explains why, once they perceive their political future is threatened in one party, they swiftly migrate to another where they believe their chances of retaining power or gaining influence are higher.

For instance, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) recently defected from the PDP to the APC, citing internal party crises as his reason. Similarly, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara and former Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State have defected to the ruling party for reasons that appear more strategic than ideological.

Party Crises and Lack of Internal Democracy
Political parties in Nigeria are often plagued by internal conflicts, poor leadership, and lack of internal democracy. This leads to situations where party members, feeling sidelined or unfairly treated, seek refuge in another party.

The PDP, for instance, suffered a major loss when Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State defected to the APC in 2020, claiming that the PDP had marginalized the South-East region. Similarly, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State defected from the PDP to the APC, citing issues of party disunity and lack of inclusion.

c. Influence of the Ruling Party and Political Patronage
The ruling party in Nigeria has significant control over state resources, appointments, and security agencies, making it attractive for politicians seeking political protection or access to financial benefits.

This is particularly evident in the way the APC has managed to attract opposition lawmakers and politicians since coming to power in 2015.

For example, the APC successfully wooed former Governor Godswill Akpabio from the PDP in 2018, a move widely believed to have been influenced by promises of political relevance at the federal level.

Akpabio later became a Minister and now serves as the Senate President.

d. Electoral Considerations and Re-Election Prospects
Politicians often assess their electoral chances within their party and, if they perceive a higher chance of re-election elsewhere, they defect. This is particularly true when a party’s popularity declines or when it fails to secure critical political structures in a given state, region or at the federal level.

Ahead of the 2023 elections, several lawmakers left their parties to join the APC, sensing that being part of the ruling party would increase their chances of winning re-election.

A notable example is Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, who defected from the PDP to the APC in Delta State, arguing that his new party provided a better political future for him.

Now even Senator Ned Nwoko has defected from PDP to APC for the same reason.

e. Fear of Political Persecution
There is a widespread perception that opposition politicians are more vulnerable to anti-corruption investigations and political harassment. Many, particularly corrupt politicians defect to the ruling party to shield themselves from prosecution.

For example, Senator Godswill Akpabio defected to the APC amidst corruption allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Similarly, former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Yari, defected to the APC in what many saw as a strategic move to avoid prosecution.

f. Party Crises and Lack of Internal Democracy
Political parties in Nigeria are often plagued by internal conflicts, poor leadership, and lack of internal democracy. Many politicians feel sidelined, unfairly treated, or manipulated by the party leadership, prompting them to seek refuge in another party where they hope for better opportunities.

For instance, the PDP suffered a major loss when Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State defected to the APC in 2020, claiming that the PDP had marginalized the South-East region. Similarly, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, left the party to form the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in 2022.

His defection was largely due to internal disputes and lack of inclusion within the PDP, particularly over control of party structures in Kano.

g. Grievances Arising from Party Primaries
A major cause of defections is the lack of fairness and transparency in party primaries. Many politicians, after failing to secure their party’s ticket in highly controversial primaries, often defect to another party where they can contest the election.

This issue became evident during the 2023 general elections, when several high-profile politicians left their parties immediately after primaries due to allegations of imposition of candidates, lack of level playing ground, and godfatherism.

For example, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau defected from the NNPP back to the PDP after a fallout with the party leadership over candidate selection issues in Kano State. Similarly, former Akwa Ibom Senator Albert Bassey left the PDP for the YPP after failing to secure the party’s gubernatorial ticket.

LEGAL POSITION ON PARTY CROSS-CARPETING BY SERVING LAWMAKERS

Constitutional Provisions
The Nigerian Constitution provides clear guidelines on the defection of elected lawmakers. Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution states:
“A member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected…”

However, there is an exception:
“provided that the membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

This means that a lawmaker who defects must vacate their seat unless they can prove that there is a division in their original party.

Despite this provision, enforcement has been weak. Many lawmakers have argued that their defection was due to a crisis in their former party, a claim often upheld by courts.

A notable case is the Ebonyi State saga, where a Federal High Court ruled that Governor Dave Umahi and several lawmakers must vacate their seats after defecting from the PDP to the APC. However, upon appeal, Umahi remained in office, highlighting the inconsistency in the judicial enforcement of anti-defection laws.

Similarly, in Rivers State, lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike defected to the APC, leading to a political standoff with Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Despite constitutional provisions, they remained in office due to political consideration.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO CURB MASS AND CROSS -PARTY DEFECTIONS

To address the crisis of mass and cross-party defections, Nigeria must be willing to implement structural, legal, and political reforms.

Amend Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution to remove loopholes and explicitly state that defecting lawmakers automatically lose their seats unless their former party ceases to exist.

Grant INEC more power to declare vacant the seats of defecting lawmakers without requiring court intervention.

The National Assembly should consider enacting specific laws that deter opportunistic defections.

Nigerian courts must adopt a uniform approach in interpreting constitutional provision on defection, ensuring that defectors who do not meet the constitutional criteria automatically lose their seats.

Political parties must ensure free, fair, and transparent primaries to prevent grievances that lead to defections.

Encourage the development of ideology-based politics where politicians align with parties based on principles rather than personal gain.

Ensure internal democracy within parties to reduce grievances that trigger defections.

CONCLUSION

Mass defections in Nigerian politics undermine democratic stability, weaken political institutions, and erode public trust in the electoral system.

While the Constitution provides some checks against indiscriminate defection, enforcement remains weak due to political interference and judicial inconsistencies.

To curb this trend, Nigeria must strengthen its legal framework, enforce strict constitutional provisions, and promote internal party democracy.

Without decisive action, the political landscape will continue to be dominated by opportunistic defections rather than genuine ideological commitments, ultimately weakening governance and democratic development in the country.

Cletus . C. UWAKINA ESQ A Lawyer and Political Strategist is the President, Crusaders Advocacy Initiative.