He joined the national party of nigeria npn in january 1983 and subsequently attempted to reenter politics. The dissolution of a number of political parties in nigeria into one party the all progressive congress apc in 20 ahead of 2015 election reenacted an already existing trend in nigerian politics referred to as politics of merger of political parties. Failure of the elections conducted by the civilian government in 1965 and 1983 brought about the military intervention. The paper unfolds the dysfunctional operation of political parties in the nigerian fourth republic as. Analytical study of political party systems in nigeria adeniran, adetayo olaniyi school of management technology, federal university of technology, akure, ondo state, nigeria abstract party systems can be identified as patterns of interaction among political parties in electoral, parliamentary and governmental arenas of a given political context. Among all of them, only the all progressive grand alliance apga could boast of winning election. A political party may like to rule for many years without giving up power. Contending issues defined as indifference towards politics, political apathy is an unrecognized threat that plagues all countries of the world tan, 2012. National party of nigeria political party, nigeria britannica. Pdf the roundtable conference on party politics in nigeria and lobbying, the lobbyist and the legislature which held between and 14 november. However, the history of nigerias democratic experiments demonstrates that elections and electoral politics have generated so much animosity which has, in some cases, threatened the corporate existence of the country.
The challenge of internal democracy in nigerian political. The commonest definition of a political party is the one by wikipedia, the. Nigerian politics takes place within a framework of a federal, presidential, representative democratic republic, in which executive power is exercised by the government. The threat of a new political party by reuben abati. Process and democratic consolidation in nigeria, journal of politics and law, vol. This is a fundamental right guaranteed by section 40 of the 1999 constitution. They were the party in power for yet another four years. Womens wings of parties have been abolished but have been. Pdf report of the round table conferences on party. Lack of internal democracy in nigeria political parties all.
Party politics and democratic governance in nigerian local. Womens wings of parties have been abolished but have been quickly replaced by the position of woman leader. After the lifting of the ban on party politics on 21 september 1978, the first group to announce its formation was the unity party of nigeria upn led by. On february 6, 20, the all progressive congress apc was born when nigerias three biggest.
This paper explores an important aspect of nigerias fourth. In nigerian political system, the way and manner politicians play politics through the. Such statute and programme must be decided in the party s convention. With a restoration of democracy, nigerians are very much determined to sustain it and make the future generation proud to be a part of this great nation. Ethnicity as a political cleavage abstract this paper examines the significance of ethnicity as a political cleavage across african nations over time. Pdf are these heady days for nigerian political parties. A number of studies have continued to demonstrate a statistical correlation between a lower number of parties and a higher degree of democratic stability, but it is. This bankruptcy in ideology and vision has rescued party politics in nigeria to a bread and butter game where monetization of the political process is the bedrock of loyalty and support. Republic politics, which is about the role of the pdp peoples democratic party in general and.
The german political party act 1996 requires all political parties to have written statutes and a written programme. Other articles where national party of nigeria is discussed. The development of political parties in nigeria dates back to the days of the struggle for political independent in the late 1940s, when the nationalists were at the preindependence and postindependence periods. Party primaries throughout the country clearly show that nigeria political parties are not operating within norms of democratic principles. While scholars have studied the influence of ethnicity in structuring party politics in africa, those studies have largely been limited to an examination of ruling party support. From 1922 that nigerian started experimenting with representative and political party democracy, through the rest of the colonial era, first republic, second republic, third republic up till the present fourth republic, political party defection has. Under nigerian law, any individual interested in running for any political office must be a registered member of a political party. The research also observed that the nigerian political system is a federal republic with a pres. Political parties in nigeria have been prone to serious interparty conflicts, divisions, splitting and decamping agarah, 2004. As described by udodinma 4 that, men occupies a large number of political positions while women are constantly left behind despite their significant contribution in the electoral process. The restoration of democratic government in 1999 led to a new approach to party politics in nigeria. Lack of internal democracy in nigeria political parties is a threat to the countrys nascent democracy. All parties are engaged in intra party conflict rather than embarked on programmes that would benefit the masses.
The situation in nigeria today seems to prove those fears true. The persistent and seemingly intractable deficits include. Understanding the political party system of nigeria politics. Nigerian government and politics political science project topics. The peoples democratic party is a freemarket oriented centerright political party in. Does nigeria since 1999 have a viable party system. The all progressives grand alliance apga is a political party in nigeria. Nov 25, 2016 the military left behind an authoritarian streak at the heart of nigerias party politics, producing political parties since 1999 that do not fully reflect or assimilate the peoples yearnings. A nigerian newspaper and online version of the vanguard, a daily publication in nigeria covering nigeria news, niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports. The second political party was the northern peoples congress npc and it was led by ahmadu bello. The procedure for registering political parties was liberalized, thereby, opening up the political space for mass participation in political activities in the country. That is how it is,i was a zonal youth leader in my zone b4.
The history of political parties in nigeria began when the first political party in nigeria was established in 1959, the year before nigeria gained her independence from great britain. It generated from intra party conflict to inter party later on. It also focuses attention on party system the history of political party in nigeria and political party affiliations. Political campaign planning manual page 4 of 105 stephanie lynn is a senior program director responsible for managing ndis programs for malaysia and burma. The political parties that exist are not people centered, since the people are often manipulated out of the representational process.
In 2015, nigeria s voters cast out the ruling peoples democratic party pdp. Some of these are the countrys colonial background interspersed by. The nigerian electoral process in perspective elections under colonial rule before independence in 1960, nigeria, which existed as an amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates since 1914, had already witnessed three different elections. Aug 06, 2012 party politics and democratic governance in nigerian local 1. Programs in malaysia focus on support for parliamentary and electoral reform. Analytical study of political party systems in nigeria. In 1959, there were three political parties in the country and they include the following.
Multiparty system and the nigerian factor in a democratic. The history of nigeria s party politics since the coming into force of the 1979 constitution, and even before it, shows strong deficits in the practice of competitive party and electoral politics. A close call at the western nigeria crisis of 1965 succeeded in reducing the thin god status of late pa awolowo by akintola, thus producing new party and increased the political awareness of the region ever since, and which no region has been able to match in nigeria. Does nigeria since 1999 have a viable democratic order. In nigeria, we have seen many situations where political parties fight one another. In conclusion, ethnicity creates disunity in nigerians political party system. The scope of this study is strictly centered on the examination of the extent of development made by multi party system in nigeria political sphere. The president is the head of state, the head of government, and the head of a multi party system. In countries such as ghana, kenya and tanzania, nationalist movements institutionalised themselves as political parties, and assumed a commanding position in national politics following the departure of the colonial regime post, 1968.
History and development of political parties in nigeria. On 15 january 1966, major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu and his fellow rebel soldiers most of who were of southern extraction and were led by major emmanuel ifeajuna of the nigerian army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government. At the legislative elections held on 12 april 2003, the party won 1. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar. The ruling peoples democratic party, or pdp, is facing its. Party politics and democratic governance in nigerian local 1. Nigerian government and politics political science project. These features arise from what has been described by rosiji 1992 as caucus or elitist nature of political parties in nigeria. Party system and nigeria political development political. Defection, democracy, election, electoral fraud, godfatherism, zoning introduction when party politics was introduced in nigeria in 1922 via the clifford constitution, its major impediment was the. Pdf modern democracy is built on the existence of mediatory institutions through which differences in preferences and opinions are. He identifies corruption and the need for large sums of money as some of the main impediments for.
Regional and local branches shall regulate their affairs by their own statute unless provided otherwise. The most successful opposition party was the all nigeria peoples party anpp, whose leading candidate, buhari muhammadu, filed a court challenge contesting the presidential election results. The topic of this paper is to assess party politics in nigeria since 1999, i. Various political parties have failed to adopt the provisions of the party s constitutions to all party members who are eligible and want to run for office in their party primaries. Thus, the practice of democracy, which is the government of the people by the people and for the people, as represented in nigeria by the political party system, has failed woefully because. As nigeria has this high number of human population, so is the number of political parties in the country as every politician wants to be governor or president. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity. Nigeria is a federal republic, with executive power exercised by the president. Party politics in nigeria is still virtually an exclusive affair of men as only very few women were elected into offices of political parties. Monitoring participation of women in politics in nigeria paper presented by mrs. Party system and nigeria political development projectclue. The history of the formation of political party in nigeria dates back to the colonial era, before the advent of colonialism, the whole idea of political.
Oloyede oluyemi national bureau of statistics nbs, abuja, nigeria abstract nigeria has been recording low participation of women in both elective and appointive positions. Formation of political parties in nigeria has not been driven by real ideology, but by patronage omotola, 2009 and ethnic sentiments, while articulation of public issues, and voting patterns at most elections often reflect religious and ethnic biases. Mar 20, 2019 nigeria is made up of a population of about 158. Instead of not winning the political position, he rigs the election to see that power comes back to the ruling party. To the civil society it ought to be a vocation of service through which political leadership of the country is recruited and. Imperial britain acquired and administered nigeria like other. International assistance to political party and party. History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Pdf nigerian parties and political ideology researchgate. Multi party system and the nigerian factor in a democratic environment.
How to register a political party in nigeria lawpadi. Nigeria s political parties with that of advanced democracies because party politics in nigeria is dirty an d that scare away good people aristotle, 2012. Section 5 looks at the justification for and scope of interparty dialogue. The emirate structure and politics in the north the first party to be introduced in the north was the northern people. The future of nigerian politics lies in tolerating civilian governance. In the 2015 national assembly of nigeria election, the party won 1 seat in the house of representatives dauda kako abayomi are from mushin i constituency and 0 out of 109 seats in the senate. Although the then president passed away while in power, the party retained ownership of the presidency. Its candidate at the presidential elections of 19 april 2003, chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, won 3. The allied congress party of nigeria, the united democratic party, the all progressive grand alliance, the african democratic congress, the kowa party, the alliance for democracy and the action alliance. Recent party primaries throughout the country clearly show that nigeria political parties are not operating within norms of democratic principles. Lukman that nigeria badly needed a leadership that can rescue the country from the depth of chronic indiscipline, disorder.
Political money and political corruption considerations. The history of nigerias party politics since the coming into force of the 1979 constitution, and even before it, shows strong deficits in the practice of competitive party and electoral politics. Anpp all nigeria peoples party apga all progressives grand alliance. Corruption is understood as everything from the paying of bribes to civil servants in return for some favour and the theft of public purses, to a wide range of dubious economic and political practices in which politicians and bureaucrats enrich. Party politics means different things to different people in nigeria. One can say without mincing words that it was during this period in question that the seed of ethnic politics was sown, germinated in the first republic and the products started spreading during. Pdf political parties in nigerias emerging democracy.
At this stage, election was restricted to the municipalities lagos and calabar with grossly unacceptable elitist prerequite for franchise which among other things required the electorates to be resident in lagos and calabar, have. Carl levan traces the political vulnerability of africas largest party in the face of elite bargains that facilitated a democratic transition in 1999. The three political parties were the national council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country today known as the federal republic of nigeria. This report on political parties in africa is part of the programme of research and dialogue on political parties undertaken by the international institute for democracy and electoral assistance idea during the years 20042006.
The rise of nationalism and religious politics in nigeria. Oct 23, 2014 the real crux of the debate is how political parties in nigeria are willing to switch from their electioneering campaign of personality politics coupled with trading of insults to actual policy issues which could be of more concern and importance to the electorates. These pacts enabled electoral competition but ultimately undermined the party s coherence. In preindependence era, party politics in nigeria was based on ethnic factor. Wogu1 corresponding author,muyiwa adeniyi sholarin2, fadeke e. Granted that nigeria is a colonial creation, the paramount determinant of political party formation was the nationalist opposition to colonial rule. The case of rivers state 19992010 vincent nyewusira, ph. The government of nigeria should draw upon the lessons learned from the 2007. Every nigerian has the right to join and register any political party of their choice. Is there any prospect of having a viable party system. The administration soon antagonised the political class and the aspiring politicians. Joining a political party is as simple as enrolling ones child to school.
Political party is sin qua non to electoral democracy and. Also participating were the all progressives grand alliance apga, the alliance for democracy ad, the national democratic party ndp, the people. The elections provided kenyans with the first real opportunity to replace a serving president with a new one through the ballot, because the then president had ser ved his second and last fiveyear term in accordance with the constitution. Department of political science, federal university dutse, jigawa state. The result of undemocratic conduct of political parties such as candidates imposition, unclear manifestoes as revealed in this paper, gave rise to assassination that portrayed nigeria as one of the most risky nation in the world. Stage 1 get organised you need a name, logo, and acronym of the proposed party it must not be similar to any known registered political party, or have any religious, ethnic, or sectional connotation, therefore you cant register a party like christian democrats or.
With the spread of democracy in africa and nigeria in particular, the formation of political. At the 2003 legislative elections, 12 april 2003, the party won 8. This is why a political party is taken as a useful index of the level political development. An assessment of political parties and democratic consolidation in nigeria s fourth republic mike omilusi, phd department of political science ekiti state university, nigeria abstract democratic values and practices are crucial for democratic institutionalization and the development of party strength. It shows a wide range of exclusion that starts with party manifestos and is also present in the nondemocratic ways in which political candidates are selected.
Political parties and the prospects of democratic consolidation in. Political party development in nigeria political science. This is one of the major causes of political issues in nigeria. Nigerian government and politics a case study of 1999 2007 politics abstract this project research work describes and analyses the structure of nigerian government and politics between 1999 and 2007 in other to improve the understanding of the operation of government and politics in nigeria. Alex thomas, an introduction to african politics, chapter 4, case study. The research also observed that the nigerian political. The paper discusses some of the impediments to the institutionalisation of democracy in nigeria after more than half a century of political independence. Nigerias political system and the people vanguard news. The alliance for democracy is a progressive opposition political party in nigeria. Ethnic politics and democratic consolidation in nigeria. National council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. He was detained for 10 months following a coup that brought muhammad buhari to power at the end of. Mar 25, 2015 nigeria is holding elections saturday following two years of political unrest.