A chieftain of the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party and Convener of The Alternative Movement, Segun Showunmi, has called for a review of the relevant section of the constitution that will help institutionalise party supremacy, tackle godfatherism and also criminalise defection, especially by elected officials into other parties.
Showunmi said that the need to get constitutional backing for party supremacy will help to build a strong party institution and tackle the challenge of godfatherism in the country’s political space.
The PDP chieftain disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Saturday.
Speaking on the amendments to the eligibility criteria as stipulated in Sections 65(2)(b), 106(d), 131(c), 177(c) of the constitution, candidates running for elective public offices must be registered members of their political party for a minimum of four years preceding the election.
He stated that such a person must also officially be sponsored by their party, subject to internal democratic processes to prevent political tourists and ensures candidates are ideologically driven and aligned with their respective parties.
Showunmi suggested that the amendment to the constitution should also state that “Any elected official who defects from their sponsoring party shall forfeit their seat, thereby triggering a by-election to fill the vacancy.
“The defectors shall equally be barred from contesting under another party for a minimum of one electoral cycle (four years).”
To further institutionalise party supremacy, Showunmi said that the constitution must make it mandatory for political parties to personalise their constitutions with explicit ideological principles and provisions.
He disclosed that all parties must also adopt constitutions delineating their ideological pillars while candidate nomination processes, which include consensus, direct, or indirect primaries, should be entirely transparent and devoid of imposition.
The opposition party leader said that on funding, parties must disclose sources of funding and undergo annual audits to mitigate godfatherism.
“The emphasis on party institutionalisation will facilitate Nigeria’s transition from a “strongman’ democracy to one anchored in robust, ideologically rooted parties.
“These policy frameworks will effectively curb the destabilising effects of cross-carpeting, foster policy continuity, and align Nigeria with global best practices in party-driven democracies.”
