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    "headline": "The Legal Regime and Trend of Political Defections in Africa: A Doldrums",
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            "text": "1. *(PhD, LL.M, BL), Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Senior Lecturer, Nigerian Law School Headquarters, Abuja, FCT, where he teaches Nigerian Constitutional Law at the Bar Part I programme, [immafemi@yahoo.com](mailto:immafemi@yahoo.com), +234803639697."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "2. *(PhD, LL.M, BL), Senior Advocate of Nigeria; Founder, Solace Law Firm (Ndarani & Co), Abuja, Nigeria."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "3. A Adejuwon, \u2018The History and Law of Political Carpet Crossing in Nigeria\u2019 [2009] (11) Squib Guest [http://squibguest.blogspot.com/2009/11/history-and-law-of-political-carpet.html](http://squibguest.blogspot.com/2009/11/history-and-law-of-political-carpet.html) accessed 1 June 2022."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "4. O Awofeso and P Irabor, \u2018Party Cross-Carpeting in Nigeria\u2019s Fourth Republic: Cases and Causes\u2019 [2016] 6(9) Journal of Public Administration and Governance 34."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "5. EM Akpambang and OAO Oniyinde, \u2018Political Party Defections by Elected Officers in Nigeria: Nuisance or Catalyst for Democratic Reforms?\u2019 [2020] 7(2) International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies 12."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "6. Adejuwon (n3)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "7. Akpambang and Oniyinde (n5)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "8. J Nwanegbo and others, \u2018Party Defection and Sustenance of Nigerian Democracy\u2019 [2014] 14(6) Global Journal of Human-Social Science 1\u20138."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "9. S Barnes, \u2018Defections, Decamping and Cross-Carpeting: The Challenges Facing Nigerian Political Parties Ahead of the 2019 General Elections\u2019 Democracy Speaks (2018) [https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/defections-decamping-and-cross-carpeting-challenges-facing-nigerian-political-parties-ahead](https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/defections-decamping-and-cross-carpeting-challenges-facing-nigerian-political-parties-ahead) accessed 1 June 2024."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "10. A Jinadu, \u2018Political Parties and Democracy in Nigeria\u2019 in Olu Obafemi and others (eds), *Political Parties and Democracy in Nigeria* (Kuru 2014)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "11. A Abiodun, \u2018Why I Joined Labour Party\u2019 *The Nation* (28 May 2022) [https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-joined-labour-party-by-peter-obi/](https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-joined-labour-party-by-peter-obi/) accessed 1 June 2024."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "12. Winston Churchill, British Statesman and former Prime Minister of Great Britain (1940\u201345; 1951\u201355) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill) accessed 1 June 2024."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "13. Ronald Reagan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan) accessed 1 June 2024."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "14. BA Garner, *Black\u2019s Law Dictionary* (10th edn, Thomson West 2014)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "15. GC Malhotra, *Law in India: Anti-defection and Commonwealth* (Metropolitan Books 2005)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "16. MB Aleyomi, \u2018Election and Politics of Party Defection in Nigeria: A Case of Kogi State\u2019 [2013] 1(1) Covenant University Journal of Politics and International Affairs 72\u201384; P Mbah, \u2018Party Defection and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria, 1999\u20132009\u2019 [2011] 2(23) Afro-Asian Journal of Social Science 1."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "17. Garner (n14)."
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            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "18. [2016] 1 NWLR (Pt 1492) 1 at 23."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "19. SOmotola, \u2018Nigerian Parties and Political Ideology\u2019 [2009] 1(3) Journal of Alternative Perspectives in Social Sciences 612."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "20. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)."
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            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "21. ibid ss 65(1)(b), 131(1)."
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            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "22. Awofeso and Irabor (n4)."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "23. ibid."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "24. CFRN 1999."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "25. (2015) 8 NWLR 314."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "26. OS Apadere and JO Agbana, \u2018Cross-Carpeting in Nigerian Politics: Some Legal and Moral Issues Generated\u2019 [2015] 3(2) Frontiers of Legal Research 33."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "27. Channels Television, \u2018Why I Defected from APC to PDP\u2019 (2018) [https://www.channelstv.com/2018/07/31/why-i-defected-from-apc-to-pdp-saraki/](https://www.channelstv.com/2018/07/31/why-i-defected-from-apc-to-pdp-saraki/) accessed 1 June 2024."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "28. CFRN 1999 ss 68(2) and 109(2)."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "29. AO Sanni, *Introduction to Nigerian Legal Method* (Kuntel Publishing House 1999)."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "30. Vibelko (Nig) Ltd v N.D.I.C. [2006] 12 NWLR (Pt 994) 280."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "31. AT Ltd v ADH [2007] 15 NWLR (Pt 1056) 118."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "32. Olowokere v African Newspapers [1993] 5 NWLR (Pt 295) 583."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "33. (1994) AIR 1558."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "34. Constitution of India 1949 art 190(3)."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "35. Kihoto Hollohan v Zachillhu and Ors (1992) SCR (1) 686."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "36. [2007] 3 NWLR (Pt 1022) 618."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "37. ibid."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "38. [2004] LPELR-1968 (SC) at 24."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "39. [2016] 18 NWLR (Pt 1543) 61."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "40. Ozomgbachi v Amadi & Ors (2018) LPELR-45152 (SC) at 48\u201349."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "41. Peoples Democratic Movement v INEC & 2 Ors [2020] 17 NWLR (Pt 1753) 303 (SC)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "42. (2018) LPELR-45152 (SC) at 48\u201349; PDM v INEC & 2 Ors [2020] 17 NWLR (Pt 1753) 303 (SC)."
        },
        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "43. CFRN 1999."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "44. (2022) LPELR-57166 (CA)."
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        {
            "@type": "CreativeWork",
            "text": "45. LPELR-45152 (SC) at 48\u201349."
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        "text": "1. *(PhD, LL.M, BL), Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria; Senior Lecturer, Nigerian Law School Headquarters, Abuja, FCT, where he teaches Nigerian Constitutional Law at the Bar Part I programme, [immafemi@yahoo.com](mailto:immafemi@yahoo.com), +234803639697.\r\n\r\n2. *(PhD, LL.M, BL), Senior Advocate of Nigeria; Founder, Solace Law Firm (Ndarani & Co), Abuja, Nigeria.\r\n\r\n3. A Adejuwon, \u2018The History and Law of Political Carpet Crossing in Nigeria\u2019 [2009] (11) Squib Guest [http://squibguest.blogspot.com/2009/11/history-and-law-of-political-carpet.html](http://squibguest.blogspot.com/2009/11/history-and-law-of-political-carpet.html) accessed 1 June 2022.\r\n\r\n4. O Awofeso and P Irabor, \u2018Party Cross-Carpeting in Nigeria\u2019s Fourth Republic: Cases and Causes\u2019 [2016] 6(9) Journal of Public Administration and Governance 34.\r\n\r\n5. EM Akpambang and OAO Oniyinde, \u2018Political Party Defections by Elected Officers in Nigeria: Nuisance or Catalyst for Democratic Reforms?\u2019 [2020] 7(2) International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies 12.\r\n\r\n6. Adejuwon (n3).\r\n\r\n7. Akpambang and Oniyinde (n5).\r\n\r\n8. J Nwanegbo and others, \u2018Party Defection and Sustenance of Nigerian Democracy\u2019 [2014] 14(6) Global Journal of Human-Social Science 1\u20138.\r\n\r\n9. S Barnes, \u2018Defections, Decamping and Cross-Carpeting: The Challenges Facing Nigerian Political Parties Ahead of the 2019 General Elections\u2019 Democracy Speaks (2018) [https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/defections-decamping-and-cross-carpeting-challenges-facing-nigerian-political-parties-ahead](https://www.democracyspeaks.org/blog/defections-decamping-and-cross-carpeting-challenges-facing-nigerian-political-parties-ahead) accessed 1 June 2024.\r\n\r\n10. A Jinadu, \u2018Political Parties and Democracy in Nigeria\u2019 in Olu Obafemi and others (eds), *Political Parties and Democracy in Nigeria* (Kuru 2014).\r\n\r\n11. A Abiodun, \u2018Why I Joined Labour Party\u2019 *The Nation* (28 May 2022) [https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-joined-labour-party-by-peter-obi/](https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-joined-labour-party-by-peter-obi/) accessed 1 June 2024.\r\n\r\n12. Winston Churchill, British Statesman and former Prime Minister of Great Britain (1940\u201345; 1951\u201355) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill) accessed 1 June 2024.\r\n\r\n13. Ronald Reagan [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan) accessed 1 June 2024.\r\n\r\n14. BA Garner, *Black\u2019s Law Dictionary* (10th edn, Thomson West 2014).\r\n\r\n15. GC Malhotra, *Law in India: Anti-defection and Commonwealth* (Metropolitan Books 2005).\r\n\r\n16. MB Aleyomi, \u2018Election and Politics of Party Defection in Nigeria: A Case of Kogi State\u2019 [2013] 1(1) Covenant University Journal of Politics and International Affairs 72\u201384; P Mbah, \u2018Party Defection and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria, 1999\u20132009\u2019 [2011] 2(23) Afro-Asian Journal of Social Science 1.\r\n\r\n17. Garner (n14).\r\n\r\n18. [2016] 1 NWLR (Pt 1492) 1 at 23.\r\n\r\n19. SOmotola, \u2018Nigerian Parties and Political Ideology\u2019 [2009] 1(3) Journal of Alternative Perspectives in Social Sciences 612.\r\n\r\n20. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).\r\n\r\n21. ibid ss 65(1)(b), 131(1).\r\n\r\n22. Awofeso and Irabor (n4).\r\n\r\n23. ibid.\r\n\r\n24. CFRN 1999.\r\n\r\n25. (2015) 8 NWLR 314.\r\n\r\n26. OS Apadere and JO Agbana, \u2018Cross-Carpeting in Nigerian Politics: Some Legal and Moral Issues Generated\u2019 [2015] 3(2) Frontiers of Legal Research 33.\r\n\r\n27. Channels Television, \u2018Why I Defected from APC to PDP\u2019 (2018) [https://www.channelstv.com/2018/07/31/why-i-defected-from-apc-to-pdp-saraki/](https://www.channelstv.com/2018/07/31/why-i-defected-from-apc-to-pdp-saraki/) accessed 1 June 2024.\r\n\r\n28. CFRN 1999 ss 68(2) and 109(2).\r\n\r\n29. AO Sanni, *Introduction to Nigerian Legal Method* (Kuntel Publishing House 1999).\r\n\r\n30. Vibelko (Nig) Ltd v N.D.I.C. [2006] 12 NWLR (Pt 994) 280.\r\n\r\n31. AT Ltd v ADH [2007] 15 NWLR (Pt 1056) 118.\r\n\r\n32. Olowokere v African Newspapers [1993] 5 NWLR (Pt 295) 583.\r\n\r\n33. (1994) AIR 1558.\r\n\r\n34. Constitution of India 1949 art 190(3).\r\n\r\n35. Kihoto Hollohan v Zachillhu and Ors (1992) SCR (1) 686.\r\n\r\n36. [2007] 3 NWLR (Pt 1022) 618.\r\n\r\n37. ibid.\r\n\r\n38. [2004] LPELR-1968 (SC) at 24.\r\n\r\n39. [2016] 18 NWLR (Pt 1543) 61.\r\n\r\n40. Ozomgbachi v Amadi & Ors (2018) LPELR-45152 (SC) at 48\u201349.\r\n\r\n41. Peoples Democratic Movement v INEC & 2 Ors [2020] 17 NWLR (Pt 1753) 303 (SC).\r\n\r\n42. (2018) LPELR-45152 (SC) at 48\u201349; PDM v INEC & 2 Ors [2020] 17 NWLR (Pt 1753) 303 (SC).\r\n\r\n43. CFRN 1999.\r\n\r\n44. (2022) LPELR-57166 (CA).\r\n\r\n45. LPELR-45152 (SC) at 48\u201349."
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    "articleBody": "The paper is an investigation into the practice of party defections and political instability, which is one of the major challenges to democracy in Nigeria and Africa in general. Politicians in Africa have continued to lay claims to their fundamental rights to freedom of association as a means of moving in and out of political groups at will, a development, though not alien to the political system, which is however gradually assuming a frivolous status, thus raising concerns in the build-up to general elections of Africa\u2019s countries.The gale of defection in Nigeria and other countries is one that demands critical attention to preserve both the legal, political and even the moral sanctity of leadership in Africa. Election periods have always been the periods when politicians move from one party to the other looking for a ticket. This article therefore examines this political trend and its incidental issues in the light of the Constitutional provisions of selected countries in Africa as well as case laws on the matter.Is the trend healthy for the political leadership development in the continent? The paper examines the existing regulatory frameworks and clearly articulates on the lack of effective implementation of internal democracy within political parties in redressing this problem. The paper calls for concerted efforts of all stakeholders and proper implementation of the existing rules governing internal democracy within political groups.",
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