Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, has called for a constitutional ban on cross-carpeting by elected executive and legislative office holders in Nigeria.
Jega, who made the recommendation while speaking at a public policy forum, argued that frequent defections by politicians undermine democratic stability, weaken political institutions, and betray the mandate of the electorate.
He stressed that the practice erodes party ideology and fuels political opportunism, urging the National Assembly to enact legislation that prohibits elected officials from switching parties mid-tenure, except in cases of documented internal party crisis.
According to the former INEC boss, such a law would promote accountability, deepen democratic culture, and strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.
