A don, Lawrence Odeh, has called for the enactment of a stiffer law to check frequent defections, particularly by serving legislators in the nation’s state and national parliaments.

Mr Odeh of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Benson Idahosa University, Benin, said the stringent measures, if put in place, would further help strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

“As a way out of the challenges of frequent defections by legislators to other political parties, I am of the view that stringent measures should be put in place to discourage such acts and strengthen democracy in the country,” the don said in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

He recommended that the NASS leadership set up a committee comprising lawmakers to investigate members’ reasons for defection.

“The committee is to find out if the reasons are in line with the constitutional provisions that permit defections.

“If the decision for cross-carpeting violates constitutional provisions, the law to be enacted should compel the legislative leader to immediately declare the seats of the defectors vacant.

“Also, the findings of the proposed committee must be approved by majority members of the parliament in a plenary session,” he said.

Mr Odeh stated that the suggested legislation should state the period during which the legislative leader must constitute the committee.

He said the committee must be given a time frame to conduct its investigation and submit the report of its findings.

“This institutional building approach and other similar ones suggested by various policy analysts, if effectively implemented, will, in no small measure, restore the institutional deficit that has adversely affected Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.

“It will also catalyse the nation’s progress toward the achievement of sustainable development,” the don said.

(NAN)