The research report, titled “Political Party Switching in Nigeria’s National Assembly: Strategies for Building Party Cohesion,” Presented by Dr. Ganiyu Ejalonibu, examined patterns of party switching in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and explored strategies for strengthening political parties and promoting greater institutional stability within the National Assembly.
Drawing on legislative data from 1999 to date, the study found that recurring party defections have weakened party discipline, diminished ideological coherence, and affected the ability of political parties to effectively perform their representative and policy-making functions. It also examined comparative approaches adopted in other democracies, including the United States, India, and Canada, highlighting different legal and institutional mechanisms for addressing party switching while promoting stronger party cohesion.
Following the presentation, the Director General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar O. Sulaiman, commended the researcher for addressing a subject of significant national importance. He disclosed that he had initially expected a routine departmental presentation but was impressed by the depth of the research and the quality of scholarly engagement.
Professor Sulaiman described constructive peer review as an indispensable part of the research process, noting that rigorous academic scrutiny strengthens the quality, credibility and policy relevance of research outputs. He encouraged the researcher to carefully consider the observations and recommendations offered during the session in refining the study.
The Director General further called for greater conceptual clarity in distinguishing terms such as party switching, floor crossing and defection while recommending a broader comparative analysis that incorporates experiences from additional African countries. He also stressed the importance of presenting legislative and political party data in a logical and sequential manner to enhance the clarity and analytical strength of the research.
The presentation concluded with extensive contributions from professors, researchers and policy experts, reaffirming NILDS’ commitment to fostering high quality, evidence based research that informs legislative reforms, strengthens democratic institutions and supports effective governance in Nigeria.
