Politicians who defect should lose seat – Atiku

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has said politicians should be made to lose their seat for defecting to other political parties.

Atiku made the recommendation as part of necessary reforms to protect democracy.

The former vice president who spoke on Monday at the National Conference on Strengthening Democracy, lamented the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy.

He warned that democracy is at risk of decline due to weak institutions, state capture, and judicial recklessness.

This was as he called for comprehensive reforms in five key areas, one of which is the strengthening of political parties

He also called for normative compliance, saying it would ensure that party members, especially leaders, adhere to party rules and laws to uphold democratic integrity.

On accountability, he recommended the enforcement of strict penalties for electoral fraud with a requirement that politicians who defect vacate their seats.

Atiku said democracy could be strengthened through coalition-building, adding that such will encourage opposition parties to unite through coalitions or mergers to effectively challenge entrenched power.

Lastly, Atiku called for judicial reform, saying judicial partisanship should be addressed to ensure that courts uphold voter choice rather than undermining democracy.

He emphasised that the reforms are essential to restore public trust and secure Nigeria’s future.