LAGOS – Mr Adesunbo Onitiri, an APC chieftain, has called for comprehensive constitutional and electoral reforms to curb political defections, eliminate godfatherism and strengthen internal democracy within Nigeria’s political parties.
Onitiri made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, on Sunday.
Onititi, a former Lagos Central Senatorial aspirant, said that the increasing rate of defections by elected public office holders had continued to weaken political institutions, erode party discipline and undermine electorate’s mandate to political parties.
According to him, any elected politician wishing to defect from one political party to another should first resign from the office won on the platform of his party .
“A politician who intends to defect should first resign from the political party through which he or she secured the mandate.
“Such a person should automatically vacate the office and return to the constituency to seek a fresh mandate from the electorate on the platform of the new political party.
“This constitutional provision will discourage political opportunism, strengthen party discipline and preserve the sanctity of the people’s mandate.
“The current practice where elected officials freely defect without consequences is unhealthy for our democracy, ” he said.
The APC chieftain advocated an end to the practice of consensus candidacy, insisting that all candidates seeking elective offices should emerge through transparent, free and credible primary elections.
“There should be no imposition of consensus candidates and no room for godfatherism in our political system.
“Every aspirant deserves a level playing field to test his or her popularity through democratic party primaries.
“Party delegates should be democratically elected and allowed to choose candidates in open, transparent and credible elections.
“That is the surest way to produce competent, popular and acceptable leaders, ” he said.
Onitiri urged the National Assembly to consider constitutional provisions permitting a limited number of independent candidates to contest elections, saying the initiative would broaden political participation and strengthen representative democracy.
“The Constitution should make room for qualified independent candidates under clearly defined conditions.
“This will expand democratic choices, encourage credible Nigerians to participate in governance and enrich our political system, ” he said.
He added that the proposed reforms would strengthen democratic institutions, restore public confidence in political parties and ensure greater accountability among elected public office holders.
Onitiri urged the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and other stakeholders to work collectively toward enacting reforms that would guarantee a more transparent, inclusive and credible democratic process.
He expressed confidence that constitutional reforms founded on the principles of accountability, transparency and the rule of law would foster political stability and further consolidate Nigeria’s democracy. (NAN)
