Since the restoration of democratic structures in May 1999, there have been cases of serving legislators defecting to another party other than the party under whose umbrella they contested and won elections.
This act is known as Cross Carpeting. In the Nigerian political space, it is popularly known as decamping or defection.
Cross-carpeting, the act of switching from one political party to another, has become a regular part of politics in Nigeria and has drawn growing public attention and debate.
Politicians, they say, have the right to associate with parties that align with their evolving ideologies or provide a better platform to serve their constituents.
While the Nigerian Constitution grants every citizen including politicians the freedom of association, the frequent wave of cross-carpeting raises important questions about the strength of political ideologies and party loyalty.
To protect the value of party politics, there should be a balance between this constitutional right and a commitment to democratic values like accountability, stability, and serving the true interests of the people.
Discover more from LN247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
