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PARTY SYSTEM AND
NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY
Chapter One:
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
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 pre-independence and post-independence periods. In the
pre-independence and the early post independence periods, political parties in
Nigeria were not ideologically based. Rather, they were regionally based and
woven around individual politicians who they saw as their mentors. In the last
ten years, however parties were registered based on the exigencies of the time.
This was the scenario until 1998; the need arose for parties that could usher
Nigeria into a new era of democracy after over fifteen years of military rule.
Historically, political parties in Nigeria have developed and still play a vital
role towards the realization of the democratic objectives. Indeed, the last
fifty years have seen an evolution of various political parties. From
1991-1993, Nigeria practiced a two-party system, with the government
establishing the Social Democratic party (SDP) and National Republican
Convention (NRC). The military government later proscribed the parties after
annulling a presidential election in 1993. But Nigeria returned to democratic
rule in 1999.
The restoration of democratic government in 1999 led to a new
approach to party politics in Nigeria. The procedure for registering political
parties was liberalized, thereby, opening up the political space for mass
participation in political activities in the country. Today, there are more
than fifty registered political parties in Nigeria, even though only few of
them have not been able to win any election. The few political parties that
have dominated the political space to the point that fears are being expressed
that the country was drifting towards a one-party state. Opposition parties are
beginning to cross to the ruling party both at the federal and states levels.
Nigeria, like many other African countries, has had its fair
share of democratic challenges, but it has also recorded some achievement over
the years. There have already been calls across the country for some
adjustments and improvements on the way political parties are run and managed,
in the years to come. Many have argued that Nigeria must necessarily adopt the
methods that will guarantee the rights of its citizens to elect leaders of
their choice as provided for in the country‟s constitution.
As Nigeria consolidation its democratic framework and
mechanisms, the multi-parties in Nigeria, need to exemplify a new level of
commitment to the yearnings and aspirations of the people for more fundamental
and sustainable development.
The recently 2011 general election in Nigeria really had some
sets backs and it really brought the world attention towards our political
system. It also leads to them in asking some questions concerning our
democratic system [voice of Nigeria on Thursday April 18th, 2013].
1.2 Statement of the Problems
In a multi-party system, political parties, being the main
tool of political development in every existing and irrespective of their
various ideological bends, different political orientations and victory
potentials, they are still allowed to partake in political competition for the
control of machinery of government and also uniting of the people. In every
modern society, political parties are viewed to be an agent of unity, peace and
integration etc. in that society, but despite the above conception, multi-party
system still holds some questions that deviate from the above. Therefore, it is
to this end that we now ask the following questions.
1. Is there any relationship between multi-party system and
political development in Nigeria?
2. What are the political implications of multi-party system
in Nigeria?
3. Does multi- party system ensure democratic consolidation
in Nigeria?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objectives or aims of this research work are simply
to know the meaning and contributions of multi-party system in Nigeria
political development. And these specific objectives are as follows:
1. To find out the relationship between multi-party system
and political development in Nigeria.
2. To access the political implication of multi-party system
in Nigeria.
3. To access whether the existence of multi-party system
ensures democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This research work will be significant in the following ways:
Firstly, it will help decision making organs, institutions to
determine the basis for political party formation in Nigeria in order to
achieve National integration and political development.
Secondly, invaluably, it will contribute to academic
knowledge as regards to function of political parties to political development.
Furthermore, it will create awareness and inspire a sense of
responsibility on members of political party on the role expected of them to
achieve good governance and political development.
1.5 Literature Review
It will be a very difficult task to complete this research
work and arrive at a justifiable conclusion without reviewing works of other
scholars in this field of study. Since such a review will provide an insight
into various aspects of the problems and similarly provide adequate theoretical
background. It is through such reviews that it would help us to critics‟
previous study and the way in which the present day will help in providing
solution to the problems. Multi-party system has been conceptualized in many
ways and views. Clearly speaking, it is one of the political systems found in
democratic or federal states of the world. Many scholars had made various
efforts to explain the meaning of multi-party system and how it relates to
political development.
According to Obikeze (2004), Multi-party system is “a scourge
to the political growth of any nation”. To him, multi-party is a reflection of
the division that exists within the society and the extent of diversity. This
means that once the nation allows a multiple party system to be in operation,
that it extends diversity and within the society, the citizens will bring
ethnicity in politics. He went further to state that, the voters have the
confusion of which party to join and who to vote for, because choice is
problematic as there is slim ideological difference among the parties. In this
case, we found out that the above problem cause political apathy. Yes! It made
groups within the society to be apathetic in the sense that an average
political Nigerian man will not interested in the political activities if this
choice is not the government. The same scholar ended his argument and analysis
with this assertion, multi-party system does not create an avenue for long term
planning as a party policy of the co-operating parties must be considered.
According to Rodee et al (1957), it was stated that “the
reason of multiple parties is the persistence of deep cleavages in a political
society caused by difference in nationality and religion divisive forces are
often inflamed by irreconcilable element within the nation or by external
revolution any moments”. This means that in most of the democratic states like
Nigeria, it is because of the diversity and differences in ideology that
engendered the feeling of ethnic politics.
La Palombara and Wemer (1966), claim that “the traditional
classification between two party system and multi-partism is not sufficiently
meaningful” they maintained that the4 number of political parties in a
political system is not essentially relevant, but competitiveness of parties is
very important. This is essentially true about multi-parties in Nigeria. In the
fourth republic, one-party, a People‟s Democratic Party (PDP) dominated the
political seats in the country. Therefore, looking at the result, the People‟s
Democratic Party (PDP) won majority of the seats. The above authors viewed a
multi-party system as one in which over an extended period, the same political
or coalition of such parties dominate or hold governmental power.
According to Larry Diamond (2009), in an interview by Zainth
Economic Quarterly Magazine, this excerpt reads thus, calling a political
system a democratic does not mean it is good or admirable system or that we
need not to worry much about imposing it further. It also simply means that if
a majority of the people want change in leaders and policies and are able to
organize effectively within the rules, they can change. This is just an
appraisal of the political system that is practiced in Nigeria, but we should
not dwell in this conception of majority participation and promoting political
decay instead of development. If people can organize political party as a
democratic state (within the rules). It can be granted, but a strong one that
will hold water to foster political development and not a weak organization
that continued to divide and tearing the nation apart.
According to Okpata (2000), multi-party system is a group system
that exist where there are usually several parties with nearly equal strength.
Political interest and historical experience play dominant role in adoption of
this system. Multi party system in this understanding, means that the ideology,
strength, interest, history, experience etc. All these matters a lot in
operation of multi-party system. The problem with this practice of multi-party
system in Nigeria is that most of political parties that exist in the fourth
republic lack the above attributes mentioned. In fact most of the parties were
of non-ideological type and that is not of development in Nigerian politics.
Eme Awa (1993) opined that “the system could be multi-party
only in the sacrificial sense of it. In this case, only one party (always the same
ones) wins elections, thereby enlarging the famous doctrine of alternating
parties that could hold power. Consequently upon this, a nation may be subject
to adherence. Multi-party system was also argued by Awa to often establish
parties on ethnic grounds.
According to Omo Omomji (2008), in his seminar presentation
about paries and politics in Nigeria, he said “I am aware that parties should
poses certain characteristics and that they are meant to perform certain
functions”. The issue is that the political parties in Nigeria are still in
search of a role, hence since 1999, the role of political parties is still
fluid. In many cases, this so-called political parties since 1999 have become a
major part of the problem in Nigeria. The dispersal of partism support and
organization in multi-party may have several others negative implication. For
instance, Ferguson and Mc Herny (1967:218) pointed out that:
The disadvantages of having many parties is that, the
multi-party system produces
instability, confuses the electorate with a multitude of
alternatives, represents local groups and factions and in action. It would make
continued functioning of the electoral system (and integration of diverse
ethnic and socio-economic group) virtually impossible.
Moreover, there is the guanine fear that any multiplication
of separates tribal groups. As Weiner and La Palombara (1966) observed,
frequently in heterogeneous societies operating a multi-party system, the
political parties re-often asserted with the various fragmented cultures. In
such, a case the parties have no intention of facilitation integration but aim
instead at reinforcing loyalties to the sub-cultures with which they are
identified.
Satori (1996) points out that “multi-party system is the most
insecure and less viable option to political development”. He also points out
that not only that the multi-party system cannot profit the stimulation of a
responsible opposition, but also that, it is often paralyzed by cabinet
instability and by the presence of anti-system parties which replace
competitive politics with irresponsible outbidding under these condition,
according to Satori (1996:175)
The multi-party system is more an agent of disintegration
than an instrument of aggregation and integration and the outcome is sheer
immobility, mal- integration or disorderly change, than is an ideologically
motivated, unrealistic sequence of abrupt changes that are likely to be
successful.
What could be derived in the above assertion is that a
developing pluralistic society in search of national integration (as an
attribute of political changes and instability, nor can it afford increased
polarization of a great number of cleavages that already existed in the
society. This was why multi-party system had failed repeatedly in Nigeria as a
mechanism for fostering political stability and political development.
According to Daniel Learner (1950), he opined. “The passing
of traditional societies, modernization of middle east” equates political
development with political modernization.
W.W Rostow (2008) also treated political development as
typical phenomenon of the industrial society. He was of the opinion that the
industrial societies are the patterns setters of political development for
other societies. Edward Shills (1991) opined that political development is a
nation state building.
According to Samuel .P. Verma (2009) stated that, the
greatest drawback of these studies was that they treated “political
development” as dependent variables, generated by something else, a worldwide
wave of modernization, nationalism or democracy and not as an independent or
interviewing variable which in its own turn could shape things. Henceforth,
political scientist sought to devise alternative meaning of political
development.
Gabriel Almond (1990) defined political development as “the
increased differentiation and specialization of political structures and the
increased secularization of political culture”, effectiveness, efficiency and
capability were seen a benchmark of political referred by Coleman (1956) as
“Development syndrome”.
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