Protest: When You Leave Your Party To Belong To Another Party, You Need To Declare Your Exit -Obi

Human rights activist Ene Obi, speaking during a protest at the National Assembly building has called for electoral law amendments requiring lawmakers and officeholders who defect to other parties to vacate their seats.

Speaking in an interview with Symfoni TV, Obi argued that voters elect party platforms rather than individual candidates, making party loyalty essential to maintaining office. “We normally vote for party logos. When you leave your party to belong to another party. You need to also declare your exit. The position should be declared vacant. So it’s not about you going up and down. Nobody ever votes—no person’s face is on the ballot. It’s the party itself. So you declare that seat vacant when you leave the party. This is very essential,” she said.

The activist also challenged proposed reductions to INEC’s electoral preparation timeline, arguing that the commission already struggles with the current 360-day period. “The timeline for INEC is very important. Even with the 360 days, they are struggling with it—it is not enough—and now you are cutting it down by half’? It’s not acceptable. The timeline should still remain 360 days so that INEC can plan very well for the election,” Obi stated.