The National Assembly on Friday pledged to swiftly amend the Electoral Act to curb the growing trend of defections by governors and lawmakers, who abandon their parties for other political platforms without vacating their elective seats.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment at a symposium in Abuja held in honour of the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Ogunlana was reacting to an earlier appeal by the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo for lawmakers to urgently amend the Electoral Act to halt the gale of defections by public office holders, which he described as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
His remarks come amid a wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress, which he warned could significantly alter the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Citing a recent example, Itodo noted that on April 23, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defected to the APC, effectively collapsing the state’s Peoples Democratic Party structure and taking along PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Similarly, several opposition lawmakers from the PDP, Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party have also crossed over to the ruling party.
“When people contest for office on certain platforms and people give them their trust, and the Supreme Court has said that votes in an election belong to a party, shouldn’t these individuals vacate those particular seats?” he asked.
While his comments drew applause from the audience, Itodo urged for deeper intellectual engagement on the issue.
“It’s not just for clapping. This is an intellectual edifice, and there is room for debate. Can we solve this problem of cross-carpeting and decamping using legal reforms,?”Itodo said.
Responding, Ogunlana assured that the issue will be addressed to strengthen democratic institutions.
The clerk noted the strategic importance of the NILDS Director General’s role and pledged continued collaboration to support legislative reforms.
Ogunlana said, “There is something some of you may not know.
“For you to hold the post he [the DG of NILDS] is holding in the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Reps Speaker Tajudeen Abbas must be involved. If they are personally involved, then it means you have to personally pay close attention to your activities.”
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio also shared his sentiment.
While assuring that the Senate is committed to democratic values, the former Akwa Ibom governor praised the leadership of the institute as dogged and resilient.
He was represented at the event by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Identity Card and Population, Senator Victor Umeh.
“This institute, he (Sulaiman) has turned it around so much that anytime you drive into these premises, you know that you are walking into an ambience of a citadel of learning, where people’s minds are developed.
“For us in the legislature, this place is a place where the skills of lawmakers are honed. When you come here, you will understand the basic symbols of lawmaking.
“And once you follow the guides and the lectures they give you, you turn out to be a good lawmaker; the purpose of setting up this institute is very well realised under his leadership,” he said.
The Punch
