##common.pageHeaderLogo.altText##
International Journal of Political and Social Sciences
Vol. 10 No. 5 (2025): September-October
Original Articles

POLITICAL DEFECTIONS AND THE EROSION OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN NIGERIA

Download
  • Amadi Cletus Okechukwu Ph.D.,
  • Nwafor Alphonsus Onyeachonam Ph.D.
Amadi Cletus Okechukwu Ph.D.
Department of Political Science and International Relations, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu
Nwafor Alphonsus Onyeachonam Ph.D.
Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17100965

Published 2025-09-11

Keywords

  • political defection,
  • party switching,
  • legislative oversight,
  • judicial inconsistency,
  • INEC,
  • Nigeria,
  • democratic erosion,
  • institutional accountability
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Amadi , C. O., & Nwafor , A. O. (2025). POLITICAL DEFECTIONS AND THE EROSION OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN NIGERIA. International Journal of Political and Social Sciences, 10(5), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17100965

Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Political and Social Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of political defections on the erosion of institutional checks and balances in Nigeria’s democratic system. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, data were sourced from verified instruments including newspaper articles (Premium Times, Daily Trust), legal documents (1999 Constitution, Ifedayo Abegunde v. Ondo State House of Assembly), judicial reports, INEC briefings, National Assembly Hansards, and publications by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and International Republican Institute (IRI). Findings reveal that political defections are largely opportunistic, often driven by personal ambition and access to power rather than ideological conviction. Mass defections particularly into the ruling party undermine legislative oversight, collapse opposition strength, and tilt power disproportionately in favor of the executive. Furthermore, judicial inconsistency in enforcing anti-defection laws and INEC’s limited enforcement capacity have created a culture of impunity. The complicity of party structures and weak institutional safeguards have normalized defection as a political strategy, eroding public trust in democratic accountability. The study recommends constitutional reform to clarify and enforce anti-defection provisions, empower INEC, and promote ideological discipline within political parties. Enhanced civic education and consistent judicial interpretation are also critical to restoring institutional integrity. Overall, unchecked political defections pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation, and necessitate urgent structural and legal interventions

Download

References

  1. Abdu, H., & Liman, M. (2021). Personalization of political power and the culture of defection in Nigeria. Journal of African Political Studies, 12(3), 77–91.
  2. Adebisi, A., & Tanko, M. (2020). Party discipline and internal crisis in Nigerian political parties. Ibadan University Press.
  3. Adegboruwa, E., & Bello, R. (2021). Checks and balances in Nigeria’s presidential democracy: Theory and practice. Nigerian Journal of Constitutional Law, 9(1), 44–59.
  4. Adeosun, K., & Eze, O. (2021). Political realignment and the collapse of opposition in Nigeria’s National Assembly. Africa Governance Review, 15(2), 60–75.
  5. Agbaje, A., & Adejumobi, S. (2019). Political opposition and democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Democracy & Development: Journal of West African Affairs, 20(1), 25–39.
  6. Aina, T. A. (2020). Strengthening party ideology through civic education. Journal of Democratic Studies, 8(1), 39–55.
  7. Ayeni, R., & Taiwo, A. (2020). Party ideology and political defection in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. African Journal of Political Ideology, 5(2), 18–32.
  8. Centre for Democracy and Development. (2022). Defections and the future of opposition politics in Nigeria: Policy brief. Abuja: CDD.
  9. Edeh, J., & Samuel, K. (2021). Democratic complicity: Party loyalty and the failure of legislative oversight in Nigeria. Journal of Legislative Studies in Africa, 6(4), 21–36.
  10. Ezeani, E., & Onuoha, C. (2023). Judicial inconsistency and constitutional accountability: The politics of defection in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Law and Politics, 11(2), 33–49.
  11. Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1999). Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). Abuja: Government Press.
  12. Femi Falana. (2021, October 22). Constitution must be amended to remove defecting governors. [Interview]. Channels Television.
  13. Ibietan, J., & Joshua, S. (2022). Political defection and voter apathy in Nigeria: A governance crisis. Nigerian Journal of Political Behaviour, 11(1), 59–72.
  14. Ibrahim, J. (2023). Political party systems and democratic breakdown in Nigeria. Centre for Democracy and Development Monographs, 3(1), 1–20.
  15. Ibrahim, M., & Hassan, Z. (2023). Ideological decline and party switching in Nigeria’s democratic space. Contemporary African Political Studies, 14(1), 88–103.
  16. Ifedayo Abegunde v. Ondo State House of Assembly, SC. 201/2012 (2015). Supreme Court of Nigeria.
  17. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). (2023, July 15). INEC cannot declare seats vacant — Yakubu. The Guardian Nigeria. https://guardian.ng
  18. International Republican Institute. (2021). Political party development and democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Washington, DC: IRI.
  19. Nkwachukwu, P. (2022). Primaries, internal democracy, and the rise of political defections in Nigeria. Journal of Electoral Integrity and Reform, 4(3), 33–49.
  20. Nwabueze, C., & Alade, B. (2023). Judicial ambiguity and constitutional silence on executive defections in Nigeria. Nigerian Bar Journal, 13(2), 91–107.
  21. Nwankwo, T., & Bakare, A. (2023). Judicial passivity and the crisis of democratic accountability in Nigeria. African Law Review, 7(1), 55–70.
  22. Okoosi-Simbine, A. T. (2021). Legal perspectives on political defection and institutional reforms. INEC Research and Policy Review, 6(1), 13–29.
  23. Okoh, B. (2023). Electoral betrayal and representative accountability in Nigeria. Journal of African Elections, 18(1), 71–88.
  24. Okoli, A., & Iortyer, P. (2020). Political defection and democratic stability in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. African Journal of Democracy and Governance, 7(3), 92–110.
  25. Okonkwo, U., & Ibeh, D. (2021). Legislative inertia and the entrenchment of political defection in Nigeria. African Journal of Legislative Studies, 7(1), 55–69.
  26. Oladeji, M. (2022). The constitutional crisis of defections in Nigeria: An analysis of Section 68(1)(g). Journal of African Law and Governance, 14(3), 101–117.
  27. Olanrewaju, F. (2022). Executive influence and the failure of regulatory institutions in Nigeria. Public Sector Governance Review, 5(2), 29–43.
  28. Omotola, J. S., & Agbaje, A. (2021). Political party discipline and the normalization of defection in Nigeria. Democracy and Development Studies, 10(2), 14–30.
  29. OrderPaper Nigeria. (2022, June 22). House of Reps plenary: Hon. Yakubu Barde defects to PDP. OrderPaper Nigeria. https://orderpaper.ng
  30. Premium Times. (2020, November 17). Why David Umahi dumped PDP for APC. Premium Times Nigeria. https://premiumtimesng.com
  31. Premium Times. (2022, May 28). Court dismisses suit seeking Matawalle’s removal. Premium Times Nigeria. https://premiumtimesng.com
  32. Premium Times. (2023, February 10). The normalization of defection and the collapse of accountability. Premium Times Nigeria. https://premiumtimesng.com
  33. The Guardian Nigeria. (2021, September 17). Fani-Kayode defects to APC. The Guardian Nigeria. https://guardian.ng
  34. The Guardian Nigeria. (2022, July 10). When elections no longer matter: The tragedy of defection politics. The Guardian Nigeria. https://guardian.ng
  35. Udoma, E., & Okafor, C. (2022). Parliamentary defections and executive consolidation in Nigeria. Legislative Affairs Review, 8(2), 50–65.
  36. Vanguard. (2021, June 29). Governor Matawalle joins APC. Vanguard Nigeria. https://www.vanguardngr.com

Similar Articles

1 2 3 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.