Metuh Calls for Constitutional Amendments to Institutionalize Zoning and Reform Political Parties
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, has urged an amendment to the 1999 Constitution to provide legal backing for zoning of national elective offices, describing it as a key measure to enhance political stability in Nigeria.
Metuh, who stepped away from partisan politics in 2022 to focus on democracy and governance advocacy, made the appeal while delivering the keynote lecture at the inaugural international conference of the Department of Political Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
Speaking on the theme, “Institutionalizing Political Parties in Nigeria for Good Governance, Security and Development: The Case for Ideological Depth, Stability, and Democratic Consolidation,” Metuh analyzed the challenges confronting party politics and governance across Nigeria and Africa, introducing reforms under what he termed the ‘Metuh Political Doctrine.’
He called for constitutional amendments to ban party defections by elected officials, arguing that defections undermine party identity, weaken the electorate’s mandate, and fuel political instability. “The high rate of defections incentivizes opportunism over ideological loyalty,” Metuh said. He proposed narrowly defined exceptions, such as party mergers or collapses, to align with the principle of electoral mandate fidelity.
Metuh emphasized the urgent need for political parties to adopt and legally uphold clear ideological foundations. “Our parties largely serve as electoral vehicles for elite competition, lacking clear ideological distinctions,” he noted. This absence of ideology, he said, hampers voter alignment, weakens accountability, and opens parties to elite capture and factional disputes.
Regarding party manifestos, Metuh criticized their often generic, recycled nature and poor implementation in Nigeria. He advocated for legal mechanisms and voter education programs to institutionalize manifestos, compelling parties to adhere to their declared policies and enhancing electoral accountability.
On party financing, Metuh highlighted the entrenched cycle of patronage that fosters elite dominance. He proposed the creation of an Independent Party Finance Commission to audit party finances and enforce compliance. Such reforms, he argued, would strengthen internal party democracy, reduce reliance on political financiers, and promote greater democratic accountability.
