Contending Issues in Party and Electoral Politics and Consequences for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria: A Historical and Comparative Appraisal
- September 3, 2018
- Posted by: RSIS
- Category: Political Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume II, Issue VIII, August 2018 | ISSN 2454–6186
Victor E. Ita
Department of Political Science, Akwa Ibom State University Obio Akpa Campus, Oruk Anam LGA, Nigeria
Abstract:-This article focused on some contending issues in Nigeria’s party and electoral politics and its consequences for sustainable democracy in the country. Based on historical and comparative analysis, and drawing from the experiences of party and electoral politics in Nigeria’s Second and Fourth Republics, the paper substantiated the fact that electoral and party politics have impacted negatively on the country’s body politics as no elections conducted in the country within these epochs have been adjudged as credible, free and fair. The paper noted factors such as intra-party squabbles, inter-party violence, negative role of the security agents during election, the bias nature of electoral commission, godfatherism and money politics are germane to the problematic nature of party and electoral politics in Nigeria. On the strength of thedebased nature of Nigeria’s party and electoral politics,it was recommended among others, that the political parties should be reorganized on the principle of all-inclusiveness rather than exclusion and reoriented from being mere platforms for acquisition of political power to effective institutions that are capable of promoting internal democracy and engendering sustainable democracy in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Keywords: Electoral politics, godfatherism, political power, money politics, inter-party violence
I. INTRODUCTION
Political parties, in a sense, may be regarded as organizations whose members have values, ideals and aspirations in common and at least participate in an organized contest and struggle for political power.But political partiesare much more than organizations for seeking and controlling political power. Political parties in contemporary period are the livewires of modern day democracy considering their significant roles in the present day political system. In effect, no democratic system can function effectively without political parties.
