The politics of opposition parties merger and the struggle. Mar 20, 2019 nigeria is made up of a population of about 158. International journal of politics and good governance volume vi, no. 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. 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.
This was the case, and it was one of the reasons given by the military, that led to their intervention and rule from 1966 to 1979. It argues that as the number of political parties has increased in the country, there has been a paradoxical decrease in the extent and scope of representation in the country. National party of nigeria political party, nigeria. Full list of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Download citation politics of merger of political parties in nigeria. 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. Nigerias political system and the people vanguard news.
The all progressives grand alliance apga is a political party in nigeria. Later the peoples party, founded in 1891, formally merged with the democratic party in 1896. After the british government assumed direct control of the royal niger companys territories, the northern areas were renamed the protectorate of northern nigeria, and the land in the niger delta and along the lower reaches of the river was added to the niger coast protectorate, which was renamed the protectorate of southern nigeria. Political party and party system support in nigeria is unfolding in a climate of. From failed opposition electoral alliance to merger.
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. 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 parts reformed into the american party and then with part of the republicandemocrats, formed the republican party. Understanding the political party system of nigeria politics.
Buhari was the anpp candidate in the 2003 presidential. 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. This paper makes the case that in nigeria and especially since 1999 party politics has not brought about political representation. In conclusion, ethnicity creates disunity in nigerians political party system.
But cupp spokesperson, ikenga ugochinyere, said such would not be good for democracy. Feb 07, 20 nigerias four biggest opposition political parties are merging to contest the 2015 elections against president goodluck jonathans peoples democratic party. Dealing with party conflicts africa independent television ait. The party, however, explained that it was not a merger but a working agreement against apc. Volunteer to be part of campaigns party activities. Ideally, political parties are expected to put in place adequate institutional. Review of international assistance to political party and party system. The board of trusteesbot of the peoples democratic party pdp, says no decision has been taken to adopt an alternative platform because of the leadership crisis rocking the party. Nigerias largest party, the pdp, w hich also has majority representation at the loca l, state, and federal government levels, could not account for the finances it received in 2008. Lack of internal democracy in nigeria political parties is a threat to the countrys nascent democracy. The politics of opposition parties merger and the struggle for power in nigerias 2015 general elections luqman saka, ph. Opposition parties, party merger, party alternation, peoples democratic party. Case study of the all progressives congress olakunle olowojolu lecturer department of political science and international relations, landmark university, omuaran, nigeria abstract.
Does nigeria since 1999 have a viable democratic order. 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. Nigerian government and politics political science project topics. Nigeria is holding elections saturday following two years of political unrest. Other articles where national party of nigeria is discussed. The research also observed that the nigerian political. He joined the national party of nigeria npn in january 1983 and subsequently attempted to reenter politics. Wogu1 corresponding author,muyiwa adeniyi sholarin2, fadeke e. Anpp was a political party in nigeria under the leadership of late chief edwin umeezeoke who was its vice presidential candidate to general muhammadu buhari in the 2007 presidential elections.
The constitution provides for a separation of powers among the three branches of government. The restoration of democratic government in 1999 led to a new approach to party politics in nigeria. At the legislative elections held on 12 april 2003, the party won 1. This is assured through the massive mobilization of the people using the structure and institutional platform of political parties. This party was a pannigerian political party led by the last governorgeneral and first president of independent nigeria, dr. The three political parties were the national council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. Centre for democracy and development nigerian political parties. On february 6, 20, the all progressive congress apc was born when nigerias three biggest. Nigerias four biggest opposition political parties are merging to contest the 2015 elections against president goodluck jonathans peoples democratic party. General elections held in february 1999 marked the end of 15 years of military rule and the beginning of civilian rule based on a multiparty democracy. The second political party was the northern peoples congress npc and it was led by ahmadu bello. 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. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity.
Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country. Nigerian government and politics political science project. The independent national electoral commission inec has said that there is no merger application by political parties yet. Is there any prospect of having a viable party system. Nigerias four biggest opposition parties agree to merge. The persistent and seemingly intractable deficits include. The nigerian peoples congress npc represented the interests of the predominantly hausafulani northern region, the national council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc.
Examine the impact of ethnicity on politics in nigeria ii. The peoples democratic party is a freemarket oriented centerright political party in. Lukman that nigeria badly needed a leadership that can rescue the country from the depth of chronic indiscipline, disorder. The political parties were limited in terms of number, only two of them. Thus politics at this time was nationalist struggle for political independence from colonialism. Examines the activities of nigerian political parties since 1999 to date. 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.
Most people do not know but there are presently 68 inec recognized political parties in nigeria updated for 2018. 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. Recent party primaries throughout the country clearly show that nigeria political parties are not operating within norms of democratic principles. Ideologies, party politics and nigerias politicoeconomic. Developing a party strategy includes steps, tools and tips that parties can use to prepare for possible coalitionbuilding. The first political party in nigeria, the nigerian national democratic party nndp emerged in 1923.
In fact, the leaders were brazen about this state of affairs. 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. If you want to get an idea of how politics really work, walk into any campaign office of a candidate and offer to help out. Every political campaign and political activity needs hard workers. That is how it is,i was a zonal youth leader in my zone b4. The second political party was the northern peoples congress npc and it.
The global acceptance of liberal democracy as a major vehicle in attaining peaceful coexistence in a multifaceted society, promotion of economic development, individual liberty, human right restoration, rule of law and freedom of healthy competition in. An analysis grace malachi brown, phd department of history and diplomatic studies. The famous names were the nigerian national democratic party nndp of herbert macaulay which dominated lagos politics in the 1920s and 1930s, but later dissolved into the national council for. In 1959, there were three political parties in the country and they include the following. 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. Party politics and the challenges of democratic consolidation. Joining a political party is as simple as enrolling ones child to school. The reasons for choosing pdp are since nigerias independence in 1960, it has been observed that party politics have been in line with ethnic interests. The ruling peoples democratic party, or pdp, is facing its. 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. Abstract since 1999 up till the conduct of the 2015 general elections, nigerias party politics has exhibited the near dominance of the political space by the then ruling peoples. History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder.
President shehu shagari 197983, of the ruling national party of nigeria npn, even said that as a matter of principle, the npn are opposed to dogma and as a result no ideological commitment was necessary to enter the party, just a vague commitment to national unity. All parties are engaged in intra party conflict rather than embarked on programmes that would benefit the masses. National party of nigeria political party, nigeria britannica. There are equally suggestions that the parties in the coalition should merge to form a stronger political party to confront the apc in 2023.
Most people do not know but there are presently 68 inec recognized political parties in nigeriaupdated for 2018. No merger applications by political parties yet the. Does nigeria operate two party system politics today. The procedure for registering political parties was liberalized, thereby, opening up the political space for mass participation in political activities in the country. For years, the undp was hegemonic in its dominance in. In preindependence era, party politics in nigeria was based on ethnic factor. Pdp says no plan to merge with another party the guardian. Nigeria is a federal republic with a presidential system. In nigerian political system, the way and manner politicians play politics through the. Its candidate at the presidential elections of 19 april 2003, chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu, won 3. The famous names were the nigerian national democratic party nndp of herbert macaulay which dominated lagos politics in the 1920s and 1930s. Pervasive intraparty conflicts in a democratising nigeria accord. This includes clarifying the regulatory frameworks and internal party process to be followed, establishing a team to research partners and strategy, and preparing arguments for the negotiation. The topic of this paper is to assess party politics in nigeria since 1999, i.
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. Political parties and threats of democratic reversal in nigeria, journal of africa election, vol. Success in politics is about who you know and not necessarily what you know. The first set of political parties to be formed in nigeria was formed in 1959, shortly before nigeria gained her independence from britain. The past and present efforts to evolve two major parties. Mar 25, 2015 nigeria is holding elections saturday following two years of political unrest. History and development of political parties in nigeria. The top three political parties at the moment still remains all progressive congress apc, peoples democratic party pdp, and all progressives grand alliance apga. In september, the first election took place in lagos and calabar. National council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc.
Party politics and the challenges of democratic consolidation in nigeria nelson goldpin obahakpowoghaha department of political science, obafemi awolowo university, ileife, po box 2006 o. Contending issues defined as indifference towards politics, political apathy is an unrecognized threat that plagues all countries of the world tan, 2012. I have the political will to secure nigeria, buhari does not moghalu politics today. The research also observed that the nigerian political system is a federal republic with a pres. Ethnic politics and democratic consolidation in nigeria. The national republican party and the antimason party merged to form the whig party, which then split on the issue of slavery. Party system and nigeria political development projectclue.
Also participating were the all progressives grand alliance apga, the alliance for democracy ad, the national democratic party ndp, the people. 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. When party politics was introduced in nigeria in 1922 via the clifford constitution, its major impediment was the restriction on political participation and representation. The school draws attention to the potential negative consequences of free interaction between politics and administration e.
Politics of merger of political parties in nigeria. The country was split into three geopolitical regionswestern region, eastern region and northern regionand its political parties took on the identities and ideologies of each region. The politics of opposition parties merger and the struggle for power in nigeria s 2015 general elections gamut of the electoral process. Lack of internal democracy in nigeria political parties. Ideologies, party politics and nigerias politicoeconomic development godwin ichimi, phd nigerian institute of international affairs, 15, kofoabayomi street, victoria island lagos, nigeria abstract a convergence of a commitment to some distinctive normative this paper aims at interrogating the apparent dearth. He was detained for 10 months following a coup that brought muhammad buhari to power at the end of. Political party and democracy consolidation in nigeria. Under the leadership of late chief edwin umeezeoke who was its vice presidential candidate to general muhammadu buhari in the 2007 presidential elections. Process and democratic consolidation in nigeria, journal of politics and law, vol.
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