From Our Correspondent
Abuja, Feb. 20, ’25 (TNZ) A civil society organisation, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for promoting ideological coherence and reviewing the Electoral Act to address politicians’ frequent carpet crossings.
TheNewsZenith reports that Dr Gabriel Nwambu, the Executive Director of CCLCA, made this call while speaking with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
Nwambu attributed recent waves of defections by politicians and political officeholders in Nigeria to what he described as “stomach infrastructure”.
He stressed the need to promote political ideology among the elites. This way, people will identify each political party for a defined value, to which members would strictly adhere.
“There is the need to promote ideological coherence among our leaders. Unlike in the West, what we have in Nigeria is more of a quest for stomach infrastructure.
“In the U.S., we have the Democrats and the Republicans. It is difficult for you to see someone defecting from Democrat to Republican.
“It is difficult because the ideology of each party is stipulated. But here, it is more of stomach infrastructure.
“So ensuring that party policies and ideologies align with the interests of members can reduce the temptation to cross-carpet,” TheNewsZenith quotes Nwabu as saying.
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According to him, the Electoral Act has specific provisions governing the conduct of political parties, members and the consequences of cross-carpeting.
“The 1999 Constitution (as amended) states clearly that a political party member may only defect to another political party if there is a division within the original political party.
“In practice, however, these laws have been both criticised and circumvented.
“These have resulted in instances of mass defection without adherence to legal stipulations.
“So, reforming electoral laws to impose stricter penalties on cross-carpeting without just cause will help.
“Promoting the importance of respecting party loyalty can also deter deflections,” he said.
The Executive Director listed some underlying issues leading to mass defection including internal party conflicts, disenfranchisement, lack of internal democracy within political parties and leadership failure. (TNZ)
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