The Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has said 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 that while they recognize the right of Nigerians to belong to any political party of their choice, the current wave of desertions is gradually subsiding. turn 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 options.
“The political landscape in Rivers State has become increasingly tumultuous following the defection of 27 legislators, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and unrest.
“This mass defection has destabilized 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 change raises important concerns about the health of Nigeria's democracy and the principles of political pluralism.
“The Resource Center for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) recognizes and respects the fundamental right of people to freely choose their political affiliations.
“Political diversity is a cornerstone of democratic governance, allowing a variety 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 legislators abandon their original parties in favor of the APC, there is a growing fear that this trend could 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 options,” he said.
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 population.
According to him, if this trend of defections continues unchecked, the repercussions could be serious.
“A lack of political competition can result in governance that is less responsive to the needs of the people, an increase in corruption, and a general decline in public trust in political institutions.
“In addition, the marginalization 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 local government elections in all 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 electoral umpire in Nigeria.
The ED of CHRICED noted that Nigeria’s democracy is at a crossroads with the dangerous tendency of the political class to “capture” power by all means.
He urged Nigerians to be concerned about the new one-party trends visible in the 36 states, where each ruling party openly displaces and muzzles all semblance of opposition, including civil society organisations, activists and the media.
“Citizens hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and their candidates would have learned from the myriad problems that plagued the 2023 general elections.
“This hope was rooted in the desire for a renewed commitment to democratic norms and practices that would ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Unfortunately, this expectation was not met as a worrying series of electoral misconduct marred the elections in Edo and Ondo.
“Reports from various observers and citizen groups indicate that the elections were characterized by widespread irregularities, including voter intimidation, ballot box theft, vote buying, and open manipulation of results.
“These actions undermine the credibility of the electoral process and erode public trust in the institutions intended to defend democracy. The role of security agencies, which were supposed to maintain order and protect voters' rights, was called into question in many polling places, 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 coercion,” he said.
Zikirullahi stated that the local government elections held in several states can only be described as a travesty of democracy.
He said that in almost all cases, the ruling parties secure all available seats, 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 election results and the extent to which the voices of the electorate are silenced.