Following the gale of defections of prominent politicians from their parties to other political parties after they have lost their bid to pick the tickets of their parties to contest next month’s election, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Wednesday suggested that necessary legislation be put in place to stop cross carpeting after shadow elections.
Specifically, Aliyu wants a six months ban to be placed on all politicians before they can leave their parties for another one after losing primary elections.
Aliyu, who spoke in Minna on Wednesday against the backdrop of the defection of his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, and others to the opposition All Progressives Congress, from the Peoples Democratic Party, said the imposition of such ban will instil discipline in the parties.
He said: “We have discovered that people join political parties only because of they want once they don’t get what they want they jump ship.
“We must instil discipline in political parties.”
Aliyu also decried the increasing wave of attacks during political party campaigns across the country, warning that the trend, if not checked, could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
He said: “Political party leaders in the states should be held responsible in the event of any breakdown of law and order as a result of the series of attacks now taking place.
“Electioneering should not be a do or die affair.
“In Niger State, electioneering should not make us lose the peace we have laboured to achieve.
“We must be careful of the kind of language we use in our campaigns.”
Aliyu said it was sad that some politicians pay thugs to wreak havoc on political opponents forgetting that after the election, “we will all return to the same house”.
He spoke at the ground breaking of the three storey building office complex of the Niger State Supply Company in Minna, the state capital.