Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed concern over the frequent defections of politicians from one party to another, describing the trend as harmful to Nigeria’s democracy.
Jonathan made the call for urgent electoral reforms during the National Action Plan for Electoral Reform Dialogue, organised by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, where he emphasised the need to strengthen democratic institutions in the country.
According to him, reforms that guarantee accountability and credibility in the electoral process remain crucial for Nigeria’s democratic growth.
Represented at the event by Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, the former president acknowledged that Nigeria had made significant strides since its return to democracy in 1999. However, he stressed that the system continues to grapple with deep-rooted flaws.
He said: “If we are truly committed to democracy, we must be bold enough to reform the process to better reflect the will of the people and the principles of justice, accountability, and inclusion. Parties are the foundation of any democracy, but in our context, they have become vulnerable to opportunism and instability. We have seen a disturbing rise in the practice of cross-cupping; elected officials defecting from the parties under which they were elected, often without ideological justification or accountability to the electorate.”
Jonathan further urged stakeholders to consider the creation of an independent Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, which he argued would enhance transparency and stability in Nigeria’s political system.
