Athena Centre Hosts Webinar on Elite Defections, Warns of Risks to Nigeria’s Multiparty Democracy
Abuja, Nigeria – 12th December, 2025
The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership on 12 November 2025 convened a high-level webinar titled “A Democracy at Risk: How Elite Defection is Tilting Nigeria’s Political Balance”, examining the growing phenomenon of political defections in Nigeria and its implications for democratic stability, legislative oversight, and multiparty competition.
The webinar drew on findings from the Centre’s recent research publication, Elite Defections, Opposition Fragmentation, and the Risk of Party Predominance in Nigeria, which documents how post-election defections have significantly altered Nigeria’s political landscape since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023. Presenting the report, the Athena Centre’s Lead Researcher, Dr Anyanwu Izuchukwu, noted that elite defections in Nigeria are driven less by ideology and more by structural incentives embedded in weak anti-defection provisions, opaque party financing, limited internal party democracy, and the advantages of incumbency. He warned that these factors are steadily hollowing out opposition capacity and weakening legislative checks and balances.
The panel discussion featured Ms Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria; Dr Philip Terzungwe, Chairman of the Nigerian Political Science Association (North Central Zone); Father Dr Anthony Azuwike, Head of the Department of Private and Property Law at Veritas University; and Chief Osita Chidoka, Chancellor of the Athena Centre. Panellists expressed concern that the scale and frequency of defections risk transforming Nigeria’s competitive multiparty system into a dominant-party legislature. Ms Adamolekun emphasised the absence of consequences for political defections, arguing that accountability mechanisms remain weak and poorly enforced.
Dr Terzungwe highlighted the lack of ideological clarity within Nigerian political parties as a major driver of defections, while Father Dr Azuwike drew attention to constitutional ambiguities and inconsistent judicial interpretations surrounding defection provisions.
In his remarks, Osita Chidoka observed that democratic erosion often occurs gradually rather than through abrupt breakdowns. “Legislatures are designed as arenas of contestation, compromise, and oversight. Once a party crosses critical supermajority thresholds, those safeguards weaken significantly,” he noted. He added that the growing disconnect between voter mandates and post-election political realignments sends troubling signals to citizens about the value of electoral choice.
The webinar concluded with broad agreement on the need for urgent, systemic reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic architecture. Key recommendations include clearer and enforceable anti-defection rules, improved transparency and accountability in party financing, stronger internal party democracy, enhanced independence and capacity of the electoral management body, INEC, and sustained civic engagement to reinforce voter accountability.
The Athena Centre reaffirmed its commitment to evidence-based research and policy advocacy aimed at preserving Nigeria’s multiparty democratic system and ensuring that political competition remains meaningful, accountable, and responsive to the will of the electorate.
Media Contact:
Paul Liam
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Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership
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