Telephone-in radio callers in Calabar have known as on the Nationwide Meeting to enact laws that can deter elected political workplace holders from defecting to different events after profitable elections on a selected political platform.
Their demand was echoed by a Notary Public and Director-Common of Good Governance Advocacy Worldwide, Barrister Leonard Anyogo, who mentioned such politicians ought to robotically lose their seats upon defection.
The callers made their views recognized throughout early morning phone-in programmes aired on Glowing FM and FAD FM, whereas Barrister Anyogo spoke in an interview with DAILY POST.
Two of the callers, Mrs. Tina Akpan, a trainer, and Mr. Jim Ete, a social employee, mentioned incessant defections have weakened opposition events and eroded democratic competitors.
Mrs. Akpan warned that the pattern was steering Nigeria towards a one-party system the place the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would dominate and govern with out efficient checks.
“We’re dealing with a harmful state of affairs,” she mentioned. “When the ruling get together turns into too highly effective, it turns dictatorial and authoritarian. That is not a democracy that ensures free speech and affiliation.”
Ete added that steady defections would deny voters actual options throughout elections.
He alleged that the ruling get together usually lures or pressures politicians to modify allegiance, thereby stifling opposition.
In his remarks, Anyogo harassed the necessity to amend present laws to make sure that elected officers who defect robotically vacate their workplaces.
“It’s extremely fascinating that our laws be amended to make politicians lose their seats if defection happens,” he mentioned.
“Nonetheless, politically talking, it’s nonetheless the voters who decide who will get elected or re-elected, as defection doesn’t assure victory.”
He additionally urged the brand new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to uphold transparency and credibility in future elections, noting that Nigerians are more and more voting for people moderately than political events.
