Don seeks stiffer law to discourage frequent defections by legislators

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By Kingsley Okoye

A don, Dr Lawrence Odeh, has called for enactment of a stiffer law to check frequent defections, particularly by serving legislators in the nation’s state and national parliaments.

Odeh, of Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Benson Idahosa University, Benin, said the stringent measures, if put in place, would further help on strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

The don stated these in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

“As a way out of the challenges of frequent defections by legislators to other political parties, I am of the view that stringent measures should be put in place to discourage such acts and strengthen democracy in the country.

“For example, a law should be enacted mandating the legislative leadership, upon receiving the report of a member or members defection, to immediately set-up a committee comprising legislators who have exhibited high level of integrity to investigate the reasons stated for their defections.

“The committee is to find out if the reasons are in line with the constitutional provisions that permit defections.

“If the decision for cross-carpeting violates constitutional provisions, the law to be enacted should compel the legislative leader to immediately declare the seats of the defectors vacant.

“Also, the findings of the proposed committee must be approved by majority members of the parliament in a plenary session,” he said.

Odeh further stated that the suggested legislation should state the period within which the legislative leader must constitute the committee.

He said that the committee must be given a time frame within which to conduct its investigation and submit the report of its findings.

“This institutional building approach and other similar ones suggested by various policy analysts, if effectively implemented, will, in no small measure, restore the institutional deficit that has adversely affected Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.

“It will also catalyse the nation’s progress toward the achievement of sustainable development,” the don said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Wale Sadeeq

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