Benue State University, Makurdi

The 2019 General Elections and the Politics of Party Defection: Implications on Democratic Consolidation

AGAN, Abraham^*
ADZAIGBA, Terwase^*
Terungwa Lawrence^*

Abstract

Politics is quite an interesting game in which most often actors play without taking into consideration the implication of their actions, one which is defection. Events across the country's political space reveal that, this practice of defecting from one political party to another appears to have become a necessary attribute of politics in Nigeria. Though, the framers of the Nigerian Constitution were not unaware of the harm, unguarded defection of the actors in party politics could cause the polity, which explained the wisdom behind the provision of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution as amended. However, this constitutional provision aimed at curbing political actors at both the federal and state levels from jettisoning the platforms on which they were elected at the slightest reason, seems to have been defeated given the style and manner politicians defect at will in the present dispensation. The Elite theory is used in interrogating the phenomenon, emphasizing the power and influence of the political elites to continue to have access to state resources. The paper made use of review of related literature for the purpose of data collection. The work revealed ideological confusion, personal aggrandizement, and lack of internal democracy and fear of persecution has been responsible for most issues of defection. The paper is of the conclusion that, some lessons must have been learnt from this gale of defections. Also, appropriate understanding of party politics and democratic consolidation must be achieved, if political parties must develop clear cut ideologies and the law should be allowed to clearly take its course whenever there is a breach.

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