The Game Theory and the Politics of Cross-carpeting in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Abstract

Politics, no doubt is a game of number. Therefore, the support base of political parties in terms of quantity of supporters is a determinant to winning election. The study adopted the theory of games as a theoretical model to unfold the scheming mechanism embedded in the new dimension of cross-carpeting by Nigeria's political actors. Whereas the game theory is anchored on the rationality of the behaviour of the players participating in the game, such assumption may just be a theoretical construct against the backdrop of incessant cross-carpeting among Nigerians political actors. The study affirmed that, while cross-carpeting is a feature of multiparty democracy like Nigeria, it can only be relevant when elected office holders respect the "rules of the game'' that guide cross-carpeting. Therefore, indiscriminate cross-carpeting by the political actors is antithetical to democratic consolidation.

Keywords: Game Theory, Political party, Cross-carpeting, Ideology, Conflict