The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has said that the mass defection of lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poses a risk to Nigerian democracy.
The Executive Director of CHRICED, Comrade Ibrahim Zikirullahi, who stated this on Tuesday while briefing journalists on the state of the nation, said while they recognise the rights of Nigerians to belong to any political party of their choice, the current wave of defection is gradually turning the country into a one-party state.
He said such a scenario would diminish the effectiveness of opposition parties, stifle political discourse, and limit the electorate’s choices.
“The political landscape in Rivers State has become increasingly tumultuous following the defection of 27 lawmakers, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and unrest.
“This mass defection has destabilised the local political scene and sparked a broader trend of defections from opposition parties within the National Assembly to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This shift raises significant concerns about the health of Nigeria’s democracy and the principles of political pluralism.
“The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (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,” he stated.
Zikirullahi further noted that a healthy democracy thrives on competition, debate, and the ability of citizens to hold their leaders accountable.
He said the diminishing presence of opposition voices could lead to complacency within the ruling party, reducing the incentive to address the needs and concerns of the populace.
According to him, 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.
“Furthermore, 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 also described the Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections and the local government elections across the states as a mockery of democracy.
Zikirullahi said the recent off-cycle elections held in Edo and Ondo States are the most prominent expressions of the crisis facing credible elections and the possibility of an independent election umpire in Nigeria.
The CHRICED ED noted that Nigeria’s democracy stands at a crossroads with the dangerous tendency of the political class to ‘capture’ power by all means.
He urged Nigerians to be worried by the new one-party tendencies visible across the 36 states, where every ruling party openly crowds out and gags every semblance of opposition, including vocal civil society organisations, activists, and media organisations.
“Citizens had hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties, and their candidates would have learned from the myriad issues that plagued the 2023 general elections.
“This hope was rooted in a desire for a renewed commitment to democratic norms and practices that would ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Regrettably, this expectation was not realised, as a troubling array of electoral misconduct marred the elections in Edo and Ondo.
“Reports from various observers and citizen groups indicate that widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, vote buying, and open manipulation of results, characterised the elections.
“These actions undermine the credibility of the electoral process and erode public trust in the institutions meant to uphold democracy. The role of security agencies, which were expected to maintain order and protect the rights of voters, was called into question in many voting locations as citizens reported feeling unsafe and vulnerable at polling stations.
“This atmosphere of fear and coercion is antithetical to the principles of democracy, which should guarantee citizens the right to vote freely and without duress,” he noted.
Zikirullahi averred that the local government elections conducted across various states can only be described as a travesty of democracy.
He said in nearly all instances, ruling parties secure all available positions, effectively transforming what should have been a competitive electoral process into a mere selection exercise.
This phenomenon, according to him, raises serious concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral outcomes and the extent to which the voices of the electorate are being silenced.
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