Challenges of Legislative Turnover in Nigerian Politics: A Deep Dive

In Nigeria, the high turnover of legislators is alarming, and for political scientists, it is more than worrisome. Some reasons for the ugly development are hijacking internal party machinery that allows moneybags to sponsor candidates into various elective political offices and the turn-by-turn Nigeria Limited syndrome alias zoning. Besides, candidates running for political offices must be in the good books of the Governors that hold the ace in nominating delegates at all levels. Failure to be subservient to the Governors would attract the stick during elections.

Lastly, Section 31 of the 2022 Electoral Act forbids parties from substituting candidates unless a prospective candidate dies or withdraws. The lawmakers never saw the booby traps in the direct delegate system and substitution of candidates in line with section 31 of the Electoral Act coming. Many Senators, including the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, are out of the law-making chambers courtesy of the section 31 rule.

Like the Judicial process, lawmaking needs service experiences in the red and green chambers to confront an executive arm of government steering the ship away from the shore of internationally acceptable best standards and practices. From what happened in the 2022 party primaries, things could get worst in subsequent elections because the Governors will never let go of the powers of incumbency effortlessly dropped on their laps by the National Assembly and their grip on the jugular of party structures.

As it is, one could only wish the new legislature and the new executive arm of government good luck in their interactional milieu beginning in June this year. Grace and peace!!!