Evaluating the Phenomenon of Party Defection in Nigeria

Nigerian politics is characterized by switching political parties or what the politicians themselves call defection. This usually happens close to primaries and after elections. On the surface, politicians defect to find political space in other parties or just to air their grievances. It is practiced by politicians who feel that their right to rule has been denied them by a particular party but they can secure that right in another party Those who defect after election do so to identify with the ruling party and enjoy the benefits attached to the government in power. Though different reasons have been advanced for defection such as selfishness, meed ingratitude, and lust for power, this paper advances that the fundamental ideological reason is lack of a personal and party political philosophy to guide their political life and activities. It is assumed that each party is to have a philosophy or party manifesto and must force members to adhere to it. This is lacking in the Nigerian politics and members are left to their discretion in the political game. Political parties are the central political machinery and control mechanism of the nation's politics. When this is lacking, there is likely hood for bad governance. What forms the foundation of the examination of this paper is the concern for Nigerian political machinery which is the foundation of Nigerian government. When the center is weak, the whole system is bound to fall. Having weak and unstable political parties and politicians is the fundamental problem of governance in Nigeria.