August 09, (THEWILL) — Former spokesperson for Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election, Otunba Segun Sowunmi, has called for constitutional amendments to reform Nigeria’s democratic system and strengthen political institutions in order to end the rampant defections of politicians from one party to another.
In a policy paper titled Strengthening Political Parties as Pillars of Democracy, Sowunmi proposed that politicians seeking elective office must be registered members of a political party for at least four years before running for election, to curb what he described as “political tourism.”
He recommended that this requirement be embedded in specific sections of the 1999 Constitution, including sections 65(2)(b), 106(d), 131(c), and 177(c), to ensure that politicians are guided by party principles rather than personal ambitions.
The convener of The Alternative, a pan-Nigerian movement, argued that Nigeria’s political system must move away from personality-driven politics to party-based governance in order to curb frequent defections that undermine the nation’s democracy.
“This will make candidates accountable to their parties’ manifestos and prevent opportunistic defections that erode public trust,” he said.
The Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party chieftain also suggested that any elected official who defects from the party that sponsored their election should automatically lose their seat and be barred from contesting on another party’s platform.
He further recommended that political parties clearly state their ideological principles in their constitutions, adopt transparent candidate selection processes, and publish annual audited financial reports to reduce the influence of political godfathers.
Sowunmi’s proposal also tasks the Independent National Electoral Commission with verifying the duration of party membership through a central biometric register and disqualifying candidates who fail to meet the requirements.
He listed the expected benefits of the reforms to include reduced electoral violence, ideological clarity for voters, improved accountability, and stability in governance.
According to him, the plan is aimed at shifting Nigeria from what he called a “strongman democracy” to a system anchored on strong and credible political institutions.
The proposal includes a 12-year sunset clause, after which its impact on Nigeria’s democratic development would be reviewed.
“This is not about individuals; it is about building a political culture where parties, not personalities, drive our national development,” Sowunmi said.
Seun Shotunde, THEWILL
