Amid the frequent change of party platforms by the headlines of the Political Office, Yiaga Africa has asked the National Assembly to amend even more the electoral law of 2022 and the 1999 Constitution to stop the trend.
The executive director of Yiaga Africa, Mr. Samson Itodo, while making the call over the weekend in Abuja, said that such amendments should ensure that a state governor, a senator or member of the representatives of the House of Representatives who defect another political party must vacate their seats.
Itodo spoke in an organized symposium to honor the general director of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (Nilds), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, who registered six years in office this week.
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Before the 2027 surveys, a worrying trend has seen a vinegar of defections to the ruler Congress of the Progressive (APC) by the holders of the Political Office.
On May 13, for example, the three senators of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) of the Kebbi state, disserved to the APC on the Senate floor.
Those who deserted were former governor and minister, Senator Adamu Aliero; Senator Yahaya Abdullahi; and Senator Garba Maidoki.
Aliero, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), represents the Senatorial-Centro-Senatorial district of Kebbi, while Senator Abdullahi, former senate leader, represents Kebbi-North. Senator Maidoki represents Kebbi-South.
His dropout letters were read to the senators by the president of the President Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin.
The deserters alluded to the internal leadership crisis in the PDP as the main reason to leave the main opposition party.
In early April, the governor of the state of Delta, the Sheriff Oborevwori, moved to the APC with the PDP structure of the State.
He moved together with the 2023 vice presidential formula partner of the PDP, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, in what many considered as a clash dropout.
In other political parties, especially the Labor Party (LP) and the new Popular Party of Nigeria (NNPP), there have also been desertions, all mainly aimed at APC.
Offering its recommendation, Itodo insisted that the law should be strict in such a way that a deserter must vacate his seats, which originally belonged to the political party that sponsored his elections.
The ED declared: “The Nigerians would want the Nilds to help solve these problems and I am glad that the Secretary of the National Assembly is here. There are many crossed characteristics in the National Assembly and the Nigerians wonder if it is not possible to find an intellectual solution for this defect.
“When people dispute a position on certain platforms and people give them their confidence and the Supreme Court has said that the votes in an election belong to a party, shouldn't these people vacate those particular seats?”
His views were received with applause in the hall, but Itodo reminded the session that the matter was quite serious and needed to address the support of all Nigerians.
He said: “It is not to applaud. But, again, this is an intellectual building and this is a place for the debate. So, I put it before you as part of your next agenda. Can we solve this problem of cutting and deciding using legal reforms?
“The second point is about the role of women in politics. It is much to return to more lobbying legislators, because we want to see more women in the National Assembly.
“The third, and perhaps the last point, is that this institute has invested both in elections and electoral reform under its leadership. Help us ask the National Assembly to approve the electoral amendments before the end of the year. Again, I am glad that the employee is still sitting next to him.”
The Secretary of the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, delivered a message of good will on behalf of the 1,100 officials and political assistants that serve in the National Assembly.
“Today I am here representing the 4,000 career employees of the National Assembly and 7,000 strong legislative assistants. We are here to celebrate the six years of service of the Nilds DG.
“There is something that some of you may not know. For you to have the position you occupy in the National Assembly, President Bola Tinubu, the president of Senate Godswill Akpabio and the president of the representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, must be involved.
“Obviously, you know what that means. If they are personally involved, then it means that you have to personally pay close attention to your activities. I also share that burden with it.”
For his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Patricia Manko, made a case for a greater representation of women and young people in leadership.
“Our young people and women matter a lot in this country, therefore, the National Assembly must leave space for adequate representation for them in the Legislature.
“I also want to recommend President Bola Tinubu for promoting positive improvement in the country despite the economic condition of the economy.
“We are beginning to see the shocking changes in our institution too,” said the VC.
Nilds, an organ of the National Assembly, provides a capacity development for legislators and staff members, including training, research and technical services.
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