Is there ‗true‘ multiparty democracy in Nigeria? This is one of the political
questions beg for answer among political scholars at various levels of government. The
above question points our attention on if there is, also, any strong and credible
opposition to sustain true democracy in Kogi State. Existing literature divulges that the
concern of party defection is rampant in Nigeria‘s democratic system due to some flaws
in the country‘s democratic process. This notwithstanding, the paper is borne out of the
aftermath of the May 4, 2013 Local Government Elections in Kogi State. Our intention
is to explain the rationale behind politicians cross carpeting to another political party
and why they play ‗politics‘ with such defection. It is on this premise that the paper
maintains that accountability, fair representation, good governance, purpose of
democracy and democratic consolidation will be defeated and by no means guaranteed
if politics of party defection should continues. The paper argues that there is nothing
wrong with party defection but, there is need for perquisite for democratic
consolidation, with great emphasis on strong and credible opposition choices. The paper
then concludes that political order based on pluralism is needed if value should be
added to the process of democratic consolidation in Kogi State and in Nigeria as a
whole.