The Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has strongly condemned the recent wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria, describing such moves as "self-serving" and a significant threat to the country's democratic system.
CHRAN Director Otuekong Franklyn Isong made these remarks during an Annual Public Lecture held in Uyo to commemorate the 2025 Democracy Day in Nigeria. The event was themed 'The Role of Opposition Political Parties in Deepening Democracy'.
Opposition Parties Essential for Democracy
"While we in CHRAN are advocating for independent candidacy to further enrich our multi-party system and broaden voters choice, we observe that the current political trend of self-serving defections from opposition political parties to the ruling party, if not checked, pose a serious threat to our hard-earned democracy," Isong stated.
He emphasized that opposition political parties play a crucial role in safeguarding democracy and called on Nigerians to resist any attempts to transform the country into a one-party state.
"If we must deepen our democracy, opposition political parties must not be depleted, drained or silenced. If we must grow our democracy, we must resist the temptation of turning the country into a one-party State," he added.
Call for People-Oriented Policies
The CHRAN director also urged President Bola Tinubu to implement people-oriented policies and programs that differ from his predecessors. He expressed confidence in the President's intentions and capacity to provide good governance.
"We urge him to do things differently from his predecessors-in-office. Let his policies and programmes be pro-Nigerians. I believe that Mr. President has good intentions for this country," Isong remarked.
Commendation for Akwa Ibom Governor
Isong praised Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his achievements during his two years in office, particularly highlighting his "bottom to top approach" to governance that focuses on addressing the needs of the less privileged rather than the elite.
He noted that under Governor Eno's leadership, Akwa Ibom has maintained its status as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, with strong support for security agencies in their crime-fighting efforts.
Expert Calls for Responsible Opposition
In his keynote address, Prof. Aniekan Sampson Brown, Professor of Criminology at the University of Uyo, emphasized the importance of opposition parties fulfilling their responsibility of scrutiny and accountability.
"What are the roles of opposition parties? A simple Google will lead us to this, that one role would have to be for scrutiny and accountability. It is not that when you lose the election, you go to Dubai," Prof. Brown stated.
He criticized the practice of politicians disappearing after electoral defeat only to return with financial resources to influence voters in subsequent elections.
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