Cross-carpeting dangerous if done under duress — Ikoro
In this interview, Ikoro N. Ikoro, an Abuja-based lawyer and public affairs analyst said that although every Nigerian has the right to freedom of association in a political party, if defections are done by coercion or duress, it is dangerous to democracy. There are perceptions that Nigeria is becoming a one-party state. What is […]
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In this interview, Ikoro N. Ikoro, an Abuja-based lawyer and public affairs analyst said that although every Nigerian has the right to freedom of association in a political party, if defections are done by coercion or duress, it is dangerous to democracy.
There are perceptions that Nigeria is becoming a one-party state. What is your view?
In Nigeria, all citizens are entitled to freedom of association, so they can join any association or political party they wish to join.
Isn’t it a threat to multi-party democracy if the freedom of association tends to move to one side?
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The main issue is whether the people defecting are doing it willingly or there is pressure from the federal might. The allegation of crime could be an incentive, or the individuals do not trust the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election in favour of any party aside the All Progressives Congress (APC). Therefore, if political heavyweights are being coerced to collapse the structures of their parties, it will seem there is an indirect attempt to turn the country into a de facto one-party state.
Under Obasanjo, we knew that once the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got into an election, they would win. The electoral act at that material time had guaranteed such an outcome that once you won, it would be difficult for a tribunal or court to change the status quo.
My take is that if people are being coerced or duress is used to cause these defections, it portends danger to our dodgy democracy; dodgy in the sense that people don’t even believe that votes count. For example, Ifeanyi Okowa and the incumbent governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori have collapsed the party structure of the PDP in the state. It seems to suggest that Delta is now a one-party state. All the other political parties won’t be able to challenge them as the structure for an election, including rigging, is now fully in the hands of the APC.
Most of the decampees argue that they want their states to be part of the central government so that they do not get treated unfairly in appointments and projects; what do you think about this claim?
The Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is meant to ensure that every state gets its allocations, and the National Assembly ensures that constituency projects come to their people. I have mentioned that when the defections are by duress, it is not contemplated by the constitution of Nigeria. The contemplation of the constitution is that no matter who is the governor or local government chairman, the resources of the country that are supposed to go to the people should go to them.
If we run a system that says if you are not in the APC, development cannot come to your area, then that is clearly unconstitutional. The Nigerian constitution, the laws and the federal character principle have been created to make sure that everybody will get what is due to them. Based on this, people who are resident where development is not going on should not blame the federal government. I think the politicians are saying what they are saying because they want to retain power.