Gale of defection to ruling party will hurt democracy, CHRICED warns

The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has warned that ahead of the 2027 elections, the gale of defection by opposition legislators to the All Progressives Congress (APC) will have severe repercussions on Nigeria’s democracy.

The organisation expressed concern that the country’s democracy was being undermined by the consolidation of power within a single party, which it said could stifle political discourse and limit the choice of Nigerians.

Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, yesterday, Executive Director of CHRICED, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, noted that the mass defection of 27 lawmakers in Rivers State was a disturbing trend that could lead to a one-party system.

About 10 members of the opposition parties in the House of Representatives have also defected to the APC, a development Zikirullahi said could lead to complacency within the ruling party, reducing the incentive to address the needs and concerns of the populace.

He warned that if the defections continue unchecked, the repercussions could be severe.

“CHRICED recognises and respects individuals’ fundamental right to freely choose their political affiliations. Political diversity is a cornerstone of democratic governance, allowing a range of voices and perspectives to be represented in the political arena.

“However, the current wave of defections appears to be consolidating power within a single party, which could lead to the erosion of democratic norms and practices. As more lawmakers abandon their original parties in favour of the APC, there is a growing fear that this trend may culminate in the establishment of a one-party system. Such a scenario would diminish the effectiveness of opposition parties, stifle political discourse, and limit the electorate’s choices,” the stated.

According to him, a healthy democracy thrives on competition, debate and the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.

“If this trend of defections continues unchecked, the repercussions could be severe. A lack of political competition may result in less responsive governance to the people’s needs, increased corruption, and a general decline in public trust in political institutions.

“Further, the marginalisation of opposition parties could lead to social unrest, as disenfranchised citizens may feel that their voices are not being heard or represented,” he added.

Zikirullahi also faulted President Bola  Tinubu’s administration for its handling of the economy, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating exchange rate policy.

He described the combined effects of these policies as “impoverishment” for most Nigerians.

Stating that Tinubu’s response to the economic hardship faced by Nigerians has been inadequate, the CHRICED boss argued that the sharing of truckloads of rice and other staples to state governments brought no relief to the people.