Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has expressed strong disapproval over the growing trend of politicians switching parties at will – www.naijnaira.com reports.
Speaking at the National Action Plan for Electoral Reform Dialogue, reported by the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Jonathan said Nigeria’s democratic system cannot thrive without bold reforms.
Represented by Ann Iyonu of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, he acknowledged that the country has made strides since returning to democracy but insisted flaws in the process remain alarming.
He cautioned, “If we are truly committed to democracy, we must reform the process to reflect the will of the people and principles of justice and accountability.”
The former leader lamented how parties have become unstable, adding, “We have seen a disturbing rise in cross-carpeting without ideological justification or accountability to the electorate.”
Jonathan proposed creating an independent Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to regulate internal operations, enforce discipline, and uphold democratic values.
Drawing on Kenya and Malawi as examples, he suggested such a body should have powers to declare seats vacant when politicians defect.
He also recommended that the appointment of the INEC chairman be handled by an impartial panel to guarantee credibility.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
