This article examines Elite Defection and Peace Process Fragmentation: Coalition Instability in Negotiated Settlements: An African Union Perspective with a focused emphasis on Nigeria within the field of Law. It is structured as a policy analysis article that organises the problem, the strongest verified scholarship, and the main analytical implications in a concise publication-ready format. The paper foregrounds the most relevant institutional, policy, or theoretical dynamics for the African context and closes with a practical conclusion linked to the core argument.