PARTY DEFECTION AND CRISIS OF DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN NIGERIA, 2011-2019

Abstract

In the world of scholarship, the question that has kept bugging the mind of the majority of scholars is whether multiparty democracy is a blessing or curse to Nigeria's political environment with particular reference to the current 'madness' called party defection that is ravaging party politics in Nigeria. In fact, with the continuous and uncontrollable rate and manner in which Nigerian politicians jump from one political party to another without recourse to its negative implications on our democratic system is indeed quite disturbing. Against this backdrop, the study explores on the concept of party defection and its effect on democratic consolidation in Nigeria, 2011-2019. The theoretical framework of the study is premised on the Games theory of politics. Importantly, the study relied on documentary method of data collection with textual analysis technique applied as method of analyzing data. The study reveals that party defection constitutes a great challenge to democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Also, the rate at which politicians defect from one political party to another concretely demonstrates a high degree of total bereft of party ideology, political philosophy/foundation, and directionless among the political gladiators in Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that the judiciary must re-spell out in clearer terms on the 'how', how not, and when' of inter party defection should be carried out in Nigeria and appropriately sanction those who recklessly indulge in it with impunity. More so, the alarming rate of carpet-crossing and its consequences in Nigeria calls for urgent amendment of both the federal constitution and electoral laws in order to checkmate and control the excessive dimension and evil trend of party defections in Nigeria polity.