The Politics of Survival, Party Defection and the Erosion of Ideological Consolidation in Nigerian Elections.

Abstract

This study investigates the pervasive phenomenon of party defection in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, situating it within the framework of the "politics of survival." The data for this study were collected from secondary sources such as textbooks, journals and online sources, while content analysis was used to analyse the data collected. The study reveals that desperation for political relevance, access to state resources, and protection from judicial scrutiny have supplanted ideological commitment among the Nigerian political elite. The paper argues that defection is not a tool for ideological realignment, but a strategic, transactional maneuver. The research further reveals that this trend has precipitated the severe erosion of ideological consolidation, resulting in a political landscape where parties lack distinct identities, manifestos, or philosophical differences. Consequently, the electorate is often presented with choices between personalities rather than policies. The study further explores the legal ambiguities surrounding anti-defection clauses and the failure of internal party democracy to curb this trend. On the whole, the study concludes that the "politics of survival" undermines institutional stability, fosters a "winner-takes-all" mentality, and significantly hinders the development of a mature, issue-based democratic systemin Nigeria. Therefore, the persistence of carpet-crossing signals a crisis of representation, where the survival of the politician consistently takes precedence over the welfare of the polity.