Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on political parties in Nigeria to define clear ideologies and build strong structures that go beyond the influence of individual politicians.
Speaking during a recent programme aired on AIT, the Kogi Central lawmaker said political parties in the country have become mere platforms for contesting elections, rather than institutions rooted in values and long-term vision.
“Today, who is an APC member? Who is a PDP member? Who is a Labour Party member?. It’s hard to say because there is no clear party philosophy. People just jump from one party to another depending on their personal interests.”
Natasha explained that this lack of ideology is why politicians frequently decamp from one party to another.
“It shouldn’t be so,” she stressed.
She appealed to party leaders across the country to return to the drawing board.
“As we continue building our party structures locally and nationally, I pray that we define our party’s philosophy. When that happens, people will no longer decamp at the slightest frustration.”
Using herself as an example, she admitted, “Today, I am probably larger than the party in Kogi Central. That shouldn’t be the case. A party should be stronger than any individual.”
She added that political identity should be meaningful.
“If someone says they are PDP, APC, or Labour, it should immediately tell you what they stand for, what kind of development they will bring if elected,” Natasha said.
Natasha also responded to a comment made by a community leader, Alhaji Badamasi, who described her as the face of political leadership in Kogi Central.
“That means if I move to Zenith Party today, people in Kogi Central will follow. But that’s not how it should be,” she said.
She emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy can only grow stronger if parties build firm ideologies that guide their actions and policies.
“I pray we get to a point where every political party is known for its beliefs, and those beliefs are seen in the lives of Nigerians.”
