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#ATIKU2027: NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION!!! Atiku Abubakar Declares That Under His 2027 Presidency, No State Governor, Federal/State Lawmaker, Or Local Government Area Chairman, Will Be Allowed To Decamp From Their Party To Another Political Party, Without Losing Their Office, It Will Be Unlawful; Any Candidate That Wishes To Defect Will Lose Their Seat, And Will Be Forced To Partake In A By-Election To Retain And Continue In That Office, Only After Emerging Victorious
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, led by its 2027 Presidential Candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to stop Elected Officials from abandoning the political parties in which they won their elections and assumed Office, without returning to the voters for a fresh mandate. This is according to the ADC 2027 Policy Document.
Under the Atiku 2027 Presidency, “an Elected Official who defects to another political party, would automatically lose the seat won under the original party, and be required to contest a by-election before continuing in Office”.
The Proposal seeks to “strengthen Nigeria’s Laws and close the loopholes that allow Politicians to change parties after elections, while retaining Offices obtained through the votes of another party’s supporters”.
For many Nigerians, political defection is not simply a change of party. It is a question of trust.
The Policy will strengthen the relationship between voters and Elected Officials in several ways.
First, it will make Politicians more accountable to their Constituencies. A Lawmaker would have to consider whether the voters supported the individual personally, or voted mainly for the party, before they think of defecting while still in Office.
Second, it will discourage defections motivated by personal advantage, appointments or access to government resources. A Politician who knows that switching parties would trigger a by-election, will be less willing to abandon the platform that secured the original mandate.
Third, it will make Party Manifestos more meaningful. If Elected Officials remain tied to the programmes and principles on which they campaigned, the voters will have greater confidence that elections can produce Policy continuity.
Finally, the Policy will protect smaller parties from losing Elected Officials to bigger parties after elections. Nigeria’s political system has witnessed Lawmakers and Governors moving from opposition parties to ruling parties; sometimes changing the balance of power, without a new vote, just for selfish personal gains.
Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as amended, already contains provisions on defection by members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
Under the Constitution, Lawmakers who jump ship risk losing their Legislative seats. Sections 68 (1)(g) and 109(1)(g) explicitly state that Members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly must vacate their seats, if they defect from the political parties that sponsored their election. However, the Law provides a vital legal loophole: A defector keeps their seat, if the switch is triggered by a formal merger or an irreconcilable division within their original party.
Disputes over these exceptions have often led to prolonged legal battles, allowing defecting Lawmakers to remain in Office, while the matter is decided in the Court for years exceeding their term in Office.
The ADC proposal seeks a clearer and more automatic process.
When adopted, the Policy will discourage defections motivated by personal benefits, appointments or access to government resources. It would also make political parties more accountable and ensure that Elected Officials remain connected to the promises made during their campaigns.
The ADC proposal is ultimately about the value of a voter’s ballot.
For the Trader, Farmer, Teacher, Student and Civil Servant, the message is straightforward: If an Elected Official changes the platform on which they were elected, the people would have the final say, under the Atiku Presidency.
Finally, the Policy will help restore accountability and remind Politicians that Public Office is held in trust for Nigerians, and not owned personally.
#AtikuIsForThePeople #TheAtikuMovement
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