Party Switching in Nigeria.
Abstract
Party switching or defection has assumed a preposterous dimension since Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999.
Defection has indeed become a routine and part and parcel of political flesh in Nigeria. The spate of party defection has not only threatened the country’s fledgling democracy, but has also rubbished its underlying philosophies.
It has further resulted into gross and acute democratic instability in which the country is currently enmeshed. In short, party switching in Nigeria constitutes one of the strong currents of reversal that the country is contending with.
The nation’s newspapers are always inundated with reports on party switchers and how they are celebrated at the state Houses of Assembly and the National Assemblies.
Party switching aptly described as “political prostitution” is fast becoming the hallmark of Nigeria’s democracy.
In part, because the political act of changing parties goes by so many different terms, studies of party switching are difficult to track down and are yet to acquire status as a subfield in party politics (Janada, 2009).
Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Party switching has become a common phenomenon among the Nigerian elites. This has not only undermined the democratic process, but also resulted to political party factionalisation and disintegration.
Consequently, political party institutionalization has suffered a serious corrosion; party switching has also directly stalled the emergence of a formidable opposition party which is the hallmark of representative democracy.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research/study is to:
- To find out the relationship between party switching and democratic consolidation in
- To explore the political implication of party switching in
- To assess whether the phenomena of party switching ensure democratic consolidation in
References
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Bratton, M. (2008: 3). Vote Buying and Violence in Nigerian Elections Campaigns. Afrobarometer Working Paper No: 99. Retrieved on December 15, 2010 from www.afrobaromter.org.
Carothers, T. (2006). Confronting the Weakest Link: Aiding Political Parties in New Democracies. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Washington, D.C.Castle, D. and Patrick J. Fett (2000). Member Goals and Party Switching in the
U.S Congress, in William T. Bianco (ed), Congress on Display, Congress at Work. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, pp 231-241.
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