Abstract
One of the major features of the legislatures in the new democracies in Africa is party switching. In different legislatures, party switching has occurred frequently, although in varying degrees. One of the countries where party switching occurs very frequently is Nigeria. In Nigeria, despite operating a presidential system, an average of five senators switched parties yearly between 1999 and 2011. This study examines the phenomenon of party switching in Nigeria using the Senate, the upper chamber of the National Assembly, as a case study. The study examines the motivations for party switching among members of the Senate. Data for the study were collected from secondary sources. In analysing the data, descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis were used. The study argues that re-election concern, the ambition to pursue other career paths, and patronage are found to spur the party defections.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
