The Politics of Inter Party Decamping and the Future of Nigeria's Democracy (original) (raw)
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Ilkogretim Online - Elementary Education, 2020
Inter-party defection is now a perturbing political culture among members of political parties in Nigeria. This obnoxious phenomenon also refers to as decamping, cross-carpeting or political harlotry has been perceived to be the result of lack of political ideology and internal democracy on the part of the political parties. This has indisputably affected intra-party politics on the one hand and the polity of the country on the other hand. It has also created a credibility problem on the part of the politicians as well as fear of the sustenance of democratic principles in the country. This study, therefore, is an effort to juxtapose the link between conflicting ideologies and defection of members of the multi-party system in the country. The reasons or politics behind inter-party defection and the consequences or implications on the sustenance of the smaller and less-dominant political parties as well as democracy in Nigeria are also of significance considering the large numbers of the Fourth Republic political parties in the country. The study also examined the historical origin of party politics and relates the same to intra and inter-party conflicts in the country. To achieve these, the study adopted the combination of Historical and Exploratory research designs of data. The study adopted the Frustration-Aggression theory to discuss and explain the phenomenon of conflicting ideologies of politicians and their inexplicable party defections. The study found that lack of internal democracy in the political parties and lack of differences in ideologies among all political parties in Nigeria are among reasons responsible for these defections and dearth of democratic values in Nigeria. Among other things the study recommends that the fourth republic political parties in Nigeria should as a matter of urgency rise up to the expectations of the citizenry through coherent and effective political ideologies, as well as ensures that they emphasize the promotion of internal democratic principles.
Party system, its peculiarities and development of political practices in Nigeria
African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 2016
This paper attempts a reasoned critique of the applicability of the concept of traditional 'party system' vis-à-vis the emergence and peculiar nature of political parties in Nigeria. Focusing on the various theoretical expositions of party systems and its heuristic adaptations across the globe, the paper investigated the historical antecedents of party formation, administration, composition and party loyalty and its metastasis in Nigeria. The paper observed that while multi-partism appears to have been the dominant practice from the colonial period till date, the spirit behind the formation and administration of the parties bears much of regional overtone than the entrenchment of democratic values and enhanced freedom of association, which the presence of many parties customarily entails. Beyond the various reforms in the Nigerian party system, therefore, this study hazards an observation that putting good framework on ground is not enough, there is also the palpable threat that can be self-inflicted by various factions within the political parties while each strives to find ways to secure relevance and control in usually fierce and sly manners.
Political Parties and Inter-Party Conflicts In Nigeria: Implications for Democratic Consolidation
International Journal of Political Science and Development, 2016
Since the return of multi-party democracy in the fourth republic, Nigeria had continued to grapple with the problem of national unity associated deficient partisan politics thereby signaling dangers for its fledgling democracy. While inter-party conflicts are commonly inevitable in democratic set up with different party formations, the nature of such relationships that exist between or among them, play crucial role in democratic sustenance. The article examined party politics and inter-party conflicts/relations and its consequences on the nature of democratic consolidation in Nigeria since the dawn of fourth republic (1999-2015).Through both analytical and historical analysis of secondary data, this study showed that party politics and inter-party conflicts/relations is characterised by acrimony which have plunged the country into deep-seated embers of ethnicity, religion and region with consequences on its nascent democracy. The article suggested that, in order to promote smooth interparty relations, atmosphere of tolerance, and mutual trust among political parties' major players must be encouraged. Such crisis of identity, social and economic inequality, party indiscipline, poor party ideology, money bag politics, use of foul languages at political functions, should be a thing of the past if the Nigerian democracy must be stable and consolidated upon.
THE CHALLENGES OF PARTY DEFECTION IN NIGERIAS FOURTH REPUBLIC 2015 2023
JOURNAL OF MILITARY HISTORY & PEACE STUDIES (LJMHPS), 2024
The emergence of multiparty democracy in Nigeria since has been seen as a breakthrough in the democratic process. However, politicians in Nigeria defect from one party to the other has not only constituted a democratic nuisance but raises serious concerns among political observers and participants in Nigeria. This study examines party defection in Nigeria's Fourth Republic. These were with the view to investigating the effects of "cross-carpeting" on the country's democratic engagement. The study used secondary data using content analysis. Against this backdrop, the study reveals that party defection was patterned towards ethnic/religious inclination, intra-party feud and selfish interest of the political class. Coupled with these anti-democratic tendencies, the study also found that indiscipline in political parties and the lack of ideology were the major factors that determined cross-carpeting in Nigeria's Fourth Republic. Finally, the study affirms that party discipline and ideology must be strictly adhered to by political parties to check the menace of incessant cross-carpeting among political officeholders.
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 been a reoccurring issue within the Nigerian polity. However, some has argued that since the advent of the Fourth Republic the incidence of political Party defection has taken a wild turn, with politicians jumping boat at will and at the slightest provocation, so much so that during this republic, there has been individuals who had at different times belonged to at least five different political parties. This research work focuses on the implications of such actions on a nascent democracy like Nigeria, and due to the geometric rate at which defections occur in the Fourth Republic; the author narrowed the beam light on the Republic. With both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the primary data (derived through questionnaires administered to 200 respondents in Edo State) and secondary data (Journal, articles, magazines and newspaper reports) gathered in the course of this research, it was discovered that politicians in Nigeria defect due to a lot of reasons including; lack of intra party democracy, highhandedness of god fathers, weak party system, defective constitution and above all the ambitions and selfish drive of Nigerian politicians. Conclusively, from the above and other findings, some recommendations that could help strengthen our democracy were also made in the work.
POLITICAL PARTIES AND INTER-PARTY CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA
Seminar On Government and Civilisation (SOGOCII), 2015
Since the return of multi-party democratic governance in 1999, Nigeria has continued to grapple with the problem of national unity, such that she can be described as nation with tripod stand, made up of three blocks, the North, the West and the East that are in a perpetual state of wobble (Ogundiya, 2011). While inter-party conflicts are commonly inevitable in every democratic set up with political party formations, due either to different political ideologies and principles, numbers of such political parties and such relationships that exist within or between them, the functions that political parties play are very crucial in democratic sustenance (Tyoden, 2013). This paper closely portrays the struggles that are contained towards the interparty and conflict that influence the development of democracy in Nigeria since the dawn of the fourth republic in 1999 and hence suggests that, to promote democracy and its consolidation in Nigeria there must be peace and an atmosphere of tolerance, harmonious coexistence and mutual trust among political parties. Such factors as concentration of power at the centre, identity crisis, corruption, social and economic inequality, poverty and hunger, lack of party discipline and tolerance, lack of clear ideologies, money bag politics, use of unguarded and foul languages at campaign grounds, etc, should be a thing of the past if the Nigerian democracy will be stable and consolidated upon.
The Contents And Discontents Of Party Politics And Democratic Experiment In Nigeria
IJRBMS, 2017
Against the general notion of democracy as a means of popular participation, in Nigeria the populace have been systematically silenced by the oppressing forces of the government and grossly denied the opportunities to participate in debate on most of the critical socioeconomic and political issues that have direct impacts on the citizen‟s lives. More often than none, few privileged individuals have continued to force their opinions and interests on the state without consideration for general interests. This schism according to Badmus, (2014) is due to the nature and structure of Nigerian state from inception which is characterised by intense struggling for political power, blatant disregard for the rule of law, gross corruption and high incidence of disregard for democratic values... Meanwhile, the political stability and development of any political system is a function of active involvement of the citizens in civic and political matters, particularly, on issues affecting their collective interests. This paper argues that since the return of democratic rule in 1999, there has been high level of discontents among the general populace toward nature of democratic rule in Nigeria. This is due to the fact that democracy in Nigeria has continued to foster the interests of the few privileged as against the common interests and this situation has continued to threaten democratic stability and consolidation. Keyword: party politics, democratic experiment, democracy, popular participation
Political Parties and Internal Party Democracy in Nigeria
Abraham Lincoln's classical definition of democracy during his Gettysburg address of 1863, as A “government of the people, by the people, for the people” (Remy, 1994: 31-34), is still very relevant today and political parties, as political institutions, are very key to the success and sustenance of democracy. For the purposes of this paper, a useful definition of democracy is that given by Seward (2004) when he stated that “democracy is a political system in which citizens themselves have an equally effective input into the making of binding collective decisions”. This they do through the instrument of political parties. Since the onset of the Fourth republic in 1999, Nigeria has adopted multi-party system in which the number of political parties in existence continued to increase, standing at sixty four up till after the 2011 general elections; twenty-seven following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s deregistration of some of the parties in 2013 (Liebowitz and Ibrahim, (2013: 74-78) and more recently, as a result of the merger of three and a half parties, there are now 24 political parties in Nigeria.
Party Politics and the Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria
The study examined the factors that determined the emergence of party's candidates and the impacts of party's lack of internal democracy on democratic consolidation in Nigeria. These were with a view to examining party politics and the challenge of democratic consolidation in Nigeria. This area of political process has be a clog on the wheel of democratic consolidation in Nigeria since independence, 1960. Most research studies emphasize theories of democracy and political party and with little attention on party politics (intra-politics) and vis-à-vis democratic consolidation in Nigeria. However, the findings of the study showed that 95% of respondents agreed that money and class were the major factors that undermined or determined the position of candidates in Nigerian election, while 90% of respondents also agreed that the power of incumbency and godfatherism greatly determined the emergence of party's candidates. Almost 90% of respondents agreed that tribalism, ethnicity, nepotism and sectionalism were major factors that have caused party's lack of internal democracy in Nigeria. The study concluded that party politics in the area of nomination, selection and elections have negative implications on democratic consolidation in Nigeria. Among other things, the study also concluded that lack of internal democracy within political parties as a limiting factor in Nigeria's attempt to deepen democracy.
POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS AS FRAMEWORKS FOR DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN NIGERIA: AN ASSESSMENT
Political Parties and Elections as Frameworks for Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: An Assessment., 2018
Political parties and elections are very integral parts of democracy, especially the western form that is being practiced in Nigeria. They form the platforms through which the citizens are made to actively participate in the affairs of the state. This worldwide trend known as democratization has made the issue of election a crucial political imperative. This study examines the relationship between politicians and challenges of conducting free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria with particular reference to the recent elections that were held in the country. The elite theory as put forward by Pareto, Michel and Mosca was adopted for empirical appraisal since the formation of political parties and electoral conducts are purely the dictates of the elites in Nigeria. Materials for the paper were majorly sourced through secondary means. The study shows that the manipulations, subjugations and alterations being witnessed in the country's political system are serious threats to her democratic journey. Democratic ethos must begin within the individual political party in Nigeria before it can translate into the country's national elections. The conclusion of the study is that both political party and elections are frameworks that have the capacity to consolidate or crucify the any nation's democracy depending on their operationality. Part of the recommendations of the study is that the ethos of democracy must be adhered to at both party and general elections. More so, the media should be unbiased in the coverage of elections and party affairs, and there is need to ensure that people of chaste characters are appointed to manage the country's electoral system.