CROSS CARPETING AND THE CRISIS OF IDEOLOGY IN NIGERIAN POLITICS: A Call for Reform

 CROSS CARPETING AND THE CRISIS OF IDEOLOGY IN NIGERIAN POLITICS: A Call for Reform

In Support of Abbati Bako’s “Can Nigerian Democracy Continue Without Political Party Ideology?”

By Tijjani Sarki

For a democracy to thrive, political parties must stand as ideological pillars representing distinct visions, values, and policies that guide national development. Yet in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, our political space is increasingly characterized by ideological confusion and unprincipled party switching, commonly known as cross carpeting. This has not only weakened the structure of our democracy but has also left the electorate disoriented and disillusioned.

Abbati Bako’s insightful piece rightly raises a critical question, Can Nigerian democracy truly survive without political party ideology? If our parties continue to operate as vehicles for seizing power rather than platforms for promoting principles, and if elected officials continue to change parties with impunity, we are not practicing true democracy  we are merely recycling power among political elites with no real direction.

This article expands on Bako’s argument by emphasizing the grave dangers of cross carpeting, lamenting the collapse of party ideology, and calling for urgent legal and institutional reforms. The time has come to reestablish the foundation of our democratic experiment or risk watching it collapse under the weight of its contradictions.

1. Cross Carpeting: A Threat to Democratic Integrity

Cross carpeting, or political defection, has become a normalized but highly damaging trend in Nigeria. Elected officials routinely abandon the political platforms on which they were voted into power, often for personal gain or survival, without returning to the electorate for a renewed mandate. This undermines the representative nature of democracy, where voters elect both the candidate and the party’s platform.

Constitutional Reference: Section 68(1)(g)The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides in Section 68(1)(g) that: 

“A member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall vacate his seat if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected"

However, the same section contains a loophole, stating: 

 “Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member”

This clause has often been exploited or manipulated by defectors to avoid sanctions, claiming internal crises in their former parties. The courts have also delivered inconsistent interpretations, making enforcement weak or nonexistent.

Legal Precedent: Ifedayo Abegunde v. Ondo State House of Assembly (2015)

In this case, the Supreme Court emphasized that a legislator cannot change political parties without just cause and remain in office. Still, enforcement remains largely at the discretion of the courts and political leadership.

Recommendation: The National Assembly must consider a constitutional amendment to remove ambiguities, tighten anti-defection provisions, and ensure automatic forfeiture of seat upon defection unless approved through a fresh election or clear judicial certification of crisis.

2. The Collapse of Political Ideology: Democracy in Name Only

Nigeria’s political parties, particularly since 1999, have largely failed to evolve into ideologically driven institutions. Whether it’s the ruling APC, opposition PDP, or emerging platforms like LP, NNPP, and APGA, there is little to no philosophical difference in their manifestos, governance models, or public policy proposals.

As Bako rightly noted, this ideological vacuum means that political parties are often indistinguishable. Politicians switch between parties without any moral or policy contradiction, and voters cannot meaningfully differentiate between the platforms they’re being asked to support.

Implication: Absence of Political Identity.

I. Accountability is lost. If parties are not ideologically anchored, they cannot be held accountable for failing to deliver on promises.

II. Voter apathy increases. Citizens are confused and disillusioned when they see parties behave the same way in power and opposition.

III. Opposition becomes weak. Without distinct ideological alternatives, opposition parties merely oppose power, not policy, failing to inspire national discourse or reform.

Comparative Insight.

In mature democracies such as the UK or the US, parties are deeply ideological:

The Conservative and Labour parties in the UK differ sharply on economy, public services, and foreign policy.

The Democratic and Republican parties in the US present divergent views on taxation, healthcare, climate policy, and governance structure.

In contrast, in Nigeria, both ruling and opposition parties adopt similar rhetoric “fight corruption,” “diversify the economy,” “create jobs”  with no clear framework or differentiation in how they intend to achieve these goals.

3. The Illusion of Multiparty Democracy.

The practical outcome of the ideological collapse is that Nigeria is drifting towards a de facto one-party system, where all parties behave the same, and power rotates within a political elite that simply switches jerseys. This defeats the purpose of multiparty democracy, which is meant to offer real alternatives in leadership and development strategies.

The lack of distinct political philosophies reduces elections to mere contests of personality, ethnicity, or money  not ideas. As a result, policy continuity is rare, and governance is often reactionary rather than strategic.

4. The Way Forward: Hope through Constitutional and Institutional Reforms

To rebuild confidence in our democratic system, we must implement a series of bold but necessary reforms:

i. Constitutional Reform on Defection.

a. Amend Section 68 and 109 of the Constitution (which govern defections for federal and state legislators, respectively) to:

b. Remove vague language around “division” in parties.

c.Enforce automatic seat forfeiture upon defection, with limited exceptions.

d. Introduce a requirement for defectors to seek a fresh mandate through by-elections.

ii. Enforce Ideological Guidelines for Political Parties.

a. INEC should mandate all parties to submit clear ideological frameworks and measurable policy commitments during registration.

b. These documents should be publicly accessible and evaluated during election periods.

iii. Internal Democracy and Transparency.

a. Parties must conduct transparent primaries, provide equal opportunities for emerging leaders, and reduce godfatherism.

b. Party leadership should reflect merit, experience, and competence  not patronage or imposition.

iv. Civic and Voter Education.

Civil society and political groups should invest in educating voters about ideologies, party manifestos, and the long-term impact of defection and weak political institutions.

Empower voters to ask. What does this party believe in? What do they stand for beyond winning elections?

Conclusion: Let Us Reclaim Nigerian Democracy.

The time has come to stop pretending that all is well with Nigeria’s political development. Cross carpeting and the absence of party ideology are not just technical issues  they strike at the heart of what democracy means. Democracy is not merely about holding elections, it is about giving citizens the power to choose between competing ideas, not just competing personalities.

If Nigeria is to fulfill the promise of democratic governance, we must demand political discipline, ideological consistency, and legal accountability. Anything less is democracy in form, but not in substance.

It’s time to stop the drift. Let us restore meaning to political platforms. Let us bring ideas back into our democracy. Let us pass the reforms that will make our republic truly representative, accountable, and resilient.

Sarki write from zawaciki, Kano

14th October,2025