IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH (IJSSMR )

E-ISSN 2545-5303
P-ISSN 2695-2203
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijssmr.vol.11no2.2025.pg.106.119

---

Defection Politics and Its Implications for Democratic Consolidation: Assessing the Risks of One-Party Dominance in Nigeria

Frank Prince Diepreye, Oputa, Ben Pade

---

Abstract

With a case study of Nigeria's fourth republic, this paper undertakes a broader examination of the challenge of political defection and its implications for democratic consolidation, particularly the phenomenon of one-party dominance. In Nigeria's political ecosystem today, political defection, a situation whereby politicians hop from one party to another has become the order of the day. Such fragmentation prevents the establishment of a stable party system, undermines faith in democratic institutions, and represents a formidable challenge for the consolidation of democracy. Lack of cohesive ideologies among political parties and their insatiable appetites for self-interest instead of ideals cause this instability. Additionally, the consequence of this one-party monopoly is that political competition is suppressed, opposition parties are weakened, and key accountability mechanisms to a well-functioning democracy are undermined. These risks demand urgent electoral reforms to strengthen internal party democracy, regulate opportunistic defections and produce ideologically based political parties. These steps are also necessary to build a more competitive political space and for the entrenchment of democratic culture in Nigeria.

keywords:

Political defections, democratic consolidation, one-party dominance, Nigeria.

---

References:

Abubakar, K. (2023). Electoral Politics and Strategic Defections in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
Abuja: National Institute for Democratic Studies.
Adebanjo, T. (2022). Internal Party Democracy and Electoral Stability in Nigeria. Ibadan:
University Press.
Ajayi, J. (2021). Internal Party Democracy and Political Stability in Nigeria. Lagos: University
Press.
Arise News (2024). Rivers Assembly Defection: Legal Challenges and Court Rulings. Arise
TV News.
Arise News. (2024, January 21). Court to Rule on Suit Against 27 Defected Rivers Lawmakers
in January 2025. Retrieved from https://www.arise.tv/court-to-rule-on-suit-against-27-
defected-rivers
Arise News. (2024). "Political Realignments and Their Impact on Nigerian Democracy." Arise
News Report, February 14, 2024.
Audu, A., Aam, B., & Gana, C. (2022). Political Defections and Democratic Consolidation in
Nigeria. Abuja: National Democratic Institute.
Audu, G., Aam, P., & Gana, K. (2022). Political Defections and Democratic Consolidation in
Nigeria's Fourth Republic. Abuja: Centre for Democracy and Development.
Audu, K., Okoro, F., & Yusuf, T. (2022). "Constitutional Limitations and the Politics of
Defections in Nigeria." African Journal of Law and Political Studies, 16(3), 45-60.
Audu, S. (2024). Kano Governorship Election: The Emergence of NNPP and Implications for
Nigerian Politics. Daily Trust.
Audu, S., Aam, J., & Gana, P. (2022). The Challenges of Multiparty Democracy in Nigeria.
Lagos: Spectrum Publishers.
Audu, Y. A., Aam, O. T., & Gana, I. M. (2022). Elections and the Politics of Party Defection
in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Implications on Democratic Consolidation. African
Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 15(2), 38–56.
Diamond, L. (1999). Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation. Baltimore: Johns
Hopkins University Press.
DiMaggio, P., & Powell, W. (1983). "The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and
Collective Rationality." American Sociological Review, 48(2), 147–160.
Dode, R. (2018). "Party Politics and Democratic Reversals in Africa." African Political
Review, 12(4), 55–72.
Dode, R. (2018). Political Realignment and Electoral Outcomes in African Democracies. Port
Harcourt: Rivers State University Press.
Dode, R. (2018). The Dynamics of One-Party Dominance in African Politics. Lagos: Centre
for Democratic Governance.
Dode, R. O. (2018). One-Party Dominance and Democratic Reversals in Sub-Saharan Africa.
African Journal of Political Science, 34(2), 45–67.
Dode, R. O. (2018). Party Defections and the Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in
Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Nigerian Political Science Review, 3(1), 22–40.
Edet, A. (2017). Politics of Defections in Nigeria: Causes and Consequences. Lagos: Civic
Media Press.
Edet, B. (2017). "Political Patronage and Careerism in Nigeria’s Party Politics." Journal of
African Political Economy, 15(1), 23-35.
Edet, E. (2017). The Politics of Defections in Nigeria: Implications for Democratic
Governance. Lagos: University Press.
Edet, L. I. (2017). Politics of Defection and its Implications on Nigeria’s Democracy. Global
Journal of Human-Social Science, 17(F1), 1–6.
Edet, U. (2017). History of Political Defections in Nigeria: Patterns and Implications. Ibadan:
Spectrum Books.
Edet, U. (2017). Internal Party Democracy and Defections in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Abuja:
Sunray Books.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). (2024). Voter Turnout and Election
Statistics (2015–2023). Abuja: INEC.
INEC (2023). Report on Voter Sensitisation and Electoral Integrity in Nigeria. Abuja: INEC
Publications.
INEC. (2023). 2023 General Election Report: Voter Turnout and Electoral Trends. Abuja:
Independent National Electoral Commission.
International IDEA (2023). Promoting Democracy and Good Governance in Africa.
Stockholm: International IDEA.
NASS (2022). Senate Proceedings: Defection and Realignment in Nigeria's National
Assembly. Abuja: National Assembly Press.
North, D. C. (1990). Institutions, Institutional Change, and Economic Performance.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nwankwo, E. (2021). "Political Instability and Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa." Journal of
Contemporary African Studies, 25(4), 67-89.
Nwankwo, E. (2023). "Judicial Interpretation and the Politics of Defections." Nigerian Journal
of Constitutional Studies, 20(1), 89-104.
Nwankwo, O. (2021). "The Role of Opposition in a Consolidated Democracy: Lessons from
Africa." Journal of African Studies, 18(2), 121–136.
Nwankwo, O. (2021). Party Politics and Political Stability in Nigeria. Enugu: Eastern
Academic Press.
Nwanneka, I. (2019). Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: The Role of Political Parties.
African Political Review, 12(3), 45–67.
Ojo, A. (2020). Intra-Party Conflicts and Democratic Governance in Nigeria. Abuja: National
Institute of Legislative Studies.
Ojo, A. (2022). Factional Politics and Leadership Tussles in Nigeria’s Political Parties. Benin
City: Ambrose Alli University Press.
Ojo, A. (2022). The Legal Framework for Political Defections in Nigeria: A Critical Review.
Nigerian Journal of Law and Politics, 28(1), 78–91.
Ojo, E. O. (2022). Political Party Defections and Electoral Stability in Nigeria. Journal of
African Elections, 21(2), 57–72.
Ojo, S. (2022). Defections, Party Politics, and Nigeria’s Political Stability. Port Harcourt:
Rivers State University Press.
Ojo, T. (2023). The Politics of Defections in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Critical Analysis.
Lagos: University of Lagos Press.
Okocha, C. (2020). Nigeria’s Electoral Landscape: Defections and Democratic Stability. Port
Harcourt: Rivers State University Press.
Omodia, S. (2022). Politics and Governance in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. Benin City:
Ambrose Alli University Press.
Omodia, S., & Udo, I. (2022). "Party System Institutionalisation and Defection Politics in
Nigeria." Journal of Political Studies, 18(4), 112-130.
Oni, S. & Joshua, S. (2020). "Opposition Politics and Democratic Accountability in Nigeria."
Nigerian Journal of Legislative Studies, 19(1), 101-119.
Oni, S., & Joshua, S. (2020). Party Politics and the Struggle for Power in Nigeria. Ibadan:
Spectrum Books.
Oni, S., & Joshua, S. (2020). Political Ideology and Party Systems in Nigeria: An Empirical
Study. Journal of African Politics, 19(3), 112–130.
Punch (2024). Court Dismisses Suit on Rivers Lawmakers’ Defection. Punch Newspapers.
Punch. (2024, September 20). Court dismisses suit seeking to remove 27 pro-Wike lawmakers.
Retrieved
from
https://punchng.com/breaking-court-dismisses-suit-seeking-to-
remove-27-pro
Uche, C., & Okeke, I. (2022). Patronage Politics and Resource Allocation in Nigeria. Enugu:
University of Nigeria Press.
Umar, S., & Ibrahim, M. (2023). "Defection Dynamics and Electoral Competition in Nigeria."
West African Journal of Political Research, 19(2), 77-95.
Umar, S., & Ibrahim, M. (2023). "The Economic Implications of Political Defections in
Nigeria." African Review of Public Administration, 20(3), 45-62.
Vanguard (2023). Bayelsa and Zamfara State Defections: APC Consolidates Power at State
Level. Vanguard Newspaper.
Wikipedia contributors. (2024, April 23). Emeka Ihedioha. In Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopaedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emeka_Ihedioha
Yusuf, A., & Eze, P. (2023). "Defections, Power Shifts, and Electoral Outcomes in Nigeria."
Journal of African Electoral Studies, 21(1), 55-72.

DOWNLOAD PDF

---

Back