Segun Showunmi Proposes Tougher Laws to End Political Defections

Segun Showunmi has proposed tougher laws to end political defections and mandate four-year party membership for candidates.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Convener of The Alternative and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Segun Showunmi, has called for sweeping constitutional amendments to Nigeria’s electoral and party governance framework, aimed at strengthening political parties, curbing opportunistic defections, and enforcing ideological accountability.

In a policy paper titled “Strengthening Political Parties as Pillars of Democracy” released on Friday, Showunmi proposed that anyone seeking elective office must have been a registered member of a political party for at least four years before an election. He also called for any elected official who defects from their party to immediately lose their seat and be barred from contesting under another party for one full electoral cycle (four years).

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Showunmi said the reforms would “replace personality-driven politics with party-based governance” and ensure candidates remain loyal to party manifestos rather than pursuing personal interests. He also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt a centralized biometric database to verify membership duration, enforce penalties for violations, and promote voter education on party ideologies over personality cults.

The proposed amendments would affect key sections of the Nigerian Constitution, including Sections 65(2)(b), 106(d), 131(c), and 177(c), with the goal of reducing factionalism, enhancing governance, and ensuring elected officials remain ideologically aligned with their political platforms.