Defections threaten democracy –NPSA

From Femi Folaranmi, YenagoaThe Nigerian Political Scientists Association (NPSA) has expressed concern over the spate of defections witnessed in the country.The eminent group, made up of scholars, stated that Nigerians are apprehensive because significant political shifts often have underlying causes. googletag.

cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1718806029429-0'); }); NPSA President, Prof Hassan Saliu, in a statement on behalf of the association entitled: ‘Political Parties, Defections and One-Party State,’ pointed out that Nigeria’s political parties had functioned mainly as vehicles for accessing power rather than as platforms for ideological debate and civic engagement.



According to him, this development has encouraged dictatorial tendencies and undemocratic behaviour, which are antithetical to the standard notion of political parties.“It is accurate to say that many of the problems plaguing Nigeria’s democracy are rooted in the undemocratic nature of its political parties. These parties often prioritise power over principles, contributing to the country’s democratic challenges.

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push({})}); “Therefore, one is not surprised that members of these unenviable parties often find it convenient to defect from one party to another for selfish reasons and security over past infractions.“In a situation where the parties do not have the number of members they claim to have and are too identical in outlook, the recourse to shifting political alliances would be predictable. Specifically, on the issues of defections and the danger of moving towards a one-party state, we argue that despite Nigerians’ constitutional right to associate with any group, the factors driving defections in Nigeria are unnatural.

Some elements of subterfuge are involved, which is why we are concerned,” he said.Saliu, who referred to a statement that portrays defection to the ruling party as a guarantee for the wiping off of previous infractions, pointed out that some individuals with questionable pasts defect for their sins to be pardoned, while others who desire to share in the national cake also flock to the ruling party.“We respect citizens’ rights, including politicians’, to shift their political allegiance.

However, the scale and nature of these defections warrant scrutiny. Undoubtedly, the recourse to defections driven by material considerations does more harm than good to Nigeria’s democracy,’’ he said.He listed the negative effects of the increasing wave of defection to include sliding towards a one-party state, which could shrink the democratic space; abridging Nigerians’ democratic rights and dampening their enthusiasm for democracy, and retarding the growth of alternative parties.

He also listed other adverse effects to include the promotion of undemocratic options; damaging Nigeria’s democratic credentials in the global community, and losing the vital oxygen, plurality gives to democracy. $(document).ready(function(){(adsbygoogle = window.

adsbygoogle || []).push({})}); To reverse the trend, he recommended that political parties should be returned to the people, the public should fund political parties, and members cultivate the habit of paying dues. He also stressed the training of party officials, rediscovering ideological differences between political parties, prioritising people’s interests by politicians, involvement of more Nigerians in politics, and minority parties working to resolve internal contradictions as the panacea to stem the tide of defections.

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