Ebere Ifendu leads the Women in Politics Forum. She recently warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces a significant threat.
Ifendu expressed her concerns on Thursday. This was during an interview on Arise Television. Her comments addressed the defection of several governors. They have been joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
She believes democracy is threatened. This is because voters no longer trust those they elected.
Ifendu Questions Political Ideologies Amidst Defections
Ifendu called these defections “embarrassing.” She questioned the core principles of Nigerian political parties. Do they lack clear ideologies?
“It is an embarrassing situation,” Ifendu stated plainly. She expects political parties to have distinct ideologies. They might be socialist, like the Labour Party. Or they could be conservative. “There must be an ideology,” she emphasized.
Such movements between parties raise questions. “Are political parties in Nigeria not built with ideology?” she asked. Voters choose a party based on its presented beliefs. Ifendu believes this situation threatens Nigerian democracy. People lose faith in their elected officials.
Party Mandate vs. Personal Agenda
She further explained that candidates hold their party’s mandate. It is not a personal mandate. Voters elect them based on the party’s agenda. To then abandon that party for another is concerning.
“Are we turning to a one-party state in Nigeria?” she questioned. “If there is no opposition, then there is no democracy.” She concluded by stating, “It’s very wrong seeing what is happening in Nigeria today.”
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