POLITICAL PARTY DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: AN OPINION SURVEY OF THE THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS OF EDO STATE OF NIGERIA (1999-2012)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of content vii
List of Tables x
Abstract xii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study 1
1.2 Statement of Research problem 6
1.3 Objectives of study 10
1.4 Statement of Hypotheses 10
1.5 Significance of study 12
1.6 Scope and limitations 13
1.7 Definition of terms 14
References 16
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW/THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Political parties as building blocks of Electoral politics 19
2.2 Variety in origins and development of political parties. 22
2.3 Party origins and development in established western
Democracies 23
2.4 Party origins and development in the developing world 26
2.5 Historical Background of Nigerian political parties 27
2.6 Theoretical Framework 32
2.7 Theoretical explanations of party and party system development 33
References 40
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 46
3.2 Population of study 46
3.3 Sample size/Sampling technique 47
3.4 Research Instrument: Questionnaire/ Interview 48
3.5 Validity and Reliability of instruments 49
3.6 Sources of Data 49
3.7 Techniques of data analysis 49
References 51
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND
INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introduction 52
4.2 Data presentation 52
4.3 Test of Hypotheses 68
4.4 Interview Analysis 77
References 81
CHAPTER FIVE: FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION
5.1 Introduction 82
5.2 Summary and Discussions of findings 82
5.3 Recommendations 87
5.4 Conclusions 89
References 90
Bibliography 91
Appendix A: Questionnaires 100
Appendix B: Interview Schedule (Guide) 104
Appendix C: List of Political Parties 107
Appendix D: Statistical 111
LIST OF TABLES
Table No: Title Page
3.1 Edo State: Population and Sample Size by Senatorial
Districts and Local Government Areas 47
4.2.1 Distribution of Respondents by Sex 53
4.2.2 Distribution of Respondents by Marital Status 53
4.2.3 Distribution of Respondents by Age Group 54
4.2.4 Distribution of Respondents by Educational Level 54
4.2.5 Distribution of Respondents by Occupation 55
4.2.6 Belong to any of the Political Party 55
4.2.7 Which Part? 56
4.2.8 Presidential System and Strong and Vibrant
Opposition Parties in Nigeria 56
4.2.9 INEC and Strong and Vibrant Parties in Nigeria 57
4.2.10 Funding of Political Parties by Government and
Strong and Well Organized Parties in Nigeria 58
4.2.11 Organizational Structure of Nigerian Political
Parties is poor or ineffective 58
4.2.12 Cordial Relationship between and Among Nigerian
Political Parties 59
4.2.13 Level playing Field for Nigerian Political Parties 59
4.2.14 Nigerian Parties are Legitimate and well Disposed
Towards the Citizenry 60
4.2.15 Ethnicity and Political Parties and Party System
Development in Nigeria 60
4.2.16 Increase in Number of Political Parties and Quality
and Outcomes of Elections in Nigeria 61
4.2.17 High Institutionalization of Political Parties and
Party System in Nigeria 61
4.2.18 Nigerian Parties and Ideology 62
4.2.19 Internal Democracy within Nigerian Political Parties 62
4.2.20 Nigerian Parties are Issue or Programme Driven Based 63
4.2.21 Political Parties in Nigeria are Elite/Patron Based 63
4.2.22 Party Discipline and Nigerian Political Parties 64
4.2.23 Multi-Party System and the Nigerian State 64
4.2.24 Two-Party System and the Nigerian State 65
4.2.25 Simple Plurality (FPTP) Electoral System and the
Nigerian State 65
4.2.26 Proportional Representation and the Nigerian State 66
4.2.27 Appointment of INEC Chairman and the President
of Nigeria 66
4.2.28 Election Petition Tribunal and the Nigerian Presidency 67
ABSTRACT
This study examines, investigates, and surveys opinion of Nigerians on some of the factors that influence party and party system development in Nigeria, using data elicited from the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State, Nigeria. The exercise was embarked upon against the background of widespread desire of Nigerians for the country to attain the highest height of party politics. To be sure, Nigerians have been clamoring for the country to evolve, organize and develop viable political parties that will aid the democratization process. The question raised has been whether the political attitudes and predispositions of the Nigerian public are supportive or antagonistic to the identified factors influencing and shaping party and party system development in Nigeria.
The stratified random sampling was used to select the respondents or sample of 1,200 Nigerians, from Edo-North, Edo-Central, and Edo-South Senatorial Districts of Edo State. The measurement instruments were the structured questionnaire and in-depth interview, designed to enable the researcher get at the trend of party development in Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed with the aid of simple percentage, and the chi-square and Yule’s Q to test and determine the degree of association inherent in the stated hypotheses. Evidence from the study’s results indicate that: the male respondents were more likely than their female counterparts to have the opinion that strong and vibrant opposition parties in Nigeria is predicated on the country’s choice of presidential system of government; the married respondents were more likely than their counterparts who are single to have the opinion that there is a low institutionalization of parties and party system in Nigeria. The respondents who fall within the age bracket of 40years and above were more likely than their counterparts who fall within the age bracket of below 40years to have the opinion that ethnic sentiments is still associated with the country’s political parties; the respondents with tertiary education were less likely than their counterparts with secondary education/less to have the opinion that the simple plurality (FPTP) electoral system is the best option for the Nigerian state; and respondents who are public servants/political office holders are more likely than their counterparts who fall within the business and others category to have the opinion that the multi-party system is the best option for the Nigerian state.
Policy advice or recommendations were made at the end of the study, some of which include:
The urgent need for government to ensure political parties are premised on ideological bases rather than on the forces of primordialism – ethnicity and religion.
The need for government to promote internal democracy within Nigerian political parties.
The need for government to address the character of the Nigerian state by decongesting the center at national and state levels and as such taming the tide of elite factionalization of political parties.
The need for government to promote the vibrancy of opposition parties in Nigeria via strengthening the instrumentality of the presidential system.
The need for the electoral system in Nigeria to be re-visited by the government.
The need to de-register some of the existing political parties in Nigeria notwithstanding the fact that it is a negation of the practice of multi-partyism.
Thus, for the evolution and development of viable political parties in Nigeria, socio-political education and re-engineering are imperative. The values of hard work, tolerance, discipline and unity should be emphasized by the people and government of Nigeria.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
The history of political party in Nigeria can be situated within the context of the two-party and multi-party political system (Adejumobi, 2007), which can be traced to the development of nationalist consciousness, awareness and political movements (Agarah, 2004), that began in Nigeria in the 1930s. This activity specifically, is what Coleman (1986:22) described as the “second wave of nationalist movement which was ‘less militant and resistant’ but mainly concerned with sentiments, activities and organizational developments aimed at the self-government and independence of Nigeria”.
A key distinguishing feature of the second wave of Nigerian nationalism was the development of permanent political associations to pursue national objectives (Coleman, 1986), with the various associations formed, by nationalists such as Ernest Ikoli, Herbert Macaulay, Samuel Akinsanya, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemil Awolowo and others constituting the precursors of political parties in Nigeria.
Political parties in Nigeria display certain key features, which include:
Their emergence and evolution has been closely tied to Nigerian constitutional development or evolution of Nigerian constitution. For example, it was the Clifford constitution of 1922 provision of four elective seats for Nigerians in the legislative council that stimulated the formation of the Nigerian National Democratic Party of Herbert Marcaulay. Similarly, political party formation enjoyed a boost from the Richard’s constitution of 1944 provision of regional assemblies while retaining the four elective seats to legislative council. Similarly, the Macpherson constitution’s regional assemblies and regional executive councils and system of indirect elections to Nigerian legislative Houses in 1951 strengthened political parties activities in pre-independent Nigeria.
Most parties have ethnic and regional bases or display identity orientations. For example, the Action Group (AG), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the Action Congress (AC) had/have their basis in the Yoruba dominated South-West of Nigeria. Similarly, the National Council of Nigeria Citizens (NCNC), the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) had/have their political strong-hold in Igbo land while the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) had/have theirs in the Hausa-Fulani heartland of northern Nigeria.
Only a few of the political parties in Nigeria can boast of having a national spread.
Political parties in Nigeria have been prone to serious inter-party conflicts, divisions, splitting and decamping (Agarah, 2004; Adejumobi, 2007).
These features arise from what has been described by Rosiji (1992) as “caucus or elitist nature” of political parties in Nigeria, the direct outcome of thinking that the educated minority in each ethnic group are the people who are qualified by natural right to lead their fellow nationals into higher political development (Olarinmoye, 2008).
In other words, political elites first create political structures then invite the mass to join. Political parties are created and directed by the elites in society who believe that control of government and of political power should be their preserve. They are, thus, not mass or branch parties with membership drawn from across board and with interests that are parochial, centred on elite objectives and actualization.
Elite parties are therefore non-ideological organizations having less interest in political principles than in securing and retaining political office for its leadership and distributing income to those who run it and work for it (Banfield and Wilson, 1965:66; Scott, 1973:121). The structural and ideological features of elite parties translate into a weak base amongst the masses. Most political parties in Nigeria are poorly entrenched in Nigerian civil society with a gap existing between them and the mass electorate.
The aforementioned disposition of political parties in Nigeria, no doubt, has eroded the central role which, ordinarily, parties whether in consolidated and non-consolidated democracies are supposed to play. This, in no small means or measure, has negated the widely accepted role by policy makers and democracy – promotion organizations, who often display a strong normative bias in favour of cohesive, organizationally developed political parties. According to the US National Democratic institute (2011:22), for instance:
Political parties form the cornerstone of a democratic society and serve a function unlike any other institution in a democracy. Parties aggregate and represent social interests and provide a structure for political participation. They train political leaders who will assume a role in governing society. In addition, parties contest and win elections to seek a measure of control of government institutions.
Similarly, the United Nations Development Programme (2008:5) maintains that “political parties are a keystone of democratic governance. They provide a structure for political participation; serve as a training ground for political leadership; and transform social interests into public policy”.
Scholars are similarly effusive. Some of the world’s foremost political scientists have placed parties at the centre of the modern democratic experience, arguing that strong parties are a sine qua non of successful democratization. Strong parties are said to be the prerequisite for political stability in modernizing countries. Without effective parties that command at least somewhat stable bases of support, democracies cannot have effective governance (Diamond and Gunther, 2001). More recently, in one of his final publications, Lipset (2000) extolled the indispensability of political parties for the survival of both transitional and established democracies. The more vigorous and healthy they are the better assured is the health of the democratic process (Agbaje, 1998). It is therefore difficult to imagine any modern democracy without political parties as they are the connecting links between diverse groups of peoples and governments.
The most common classification of political parties is that which emphasizes the degree of competitiveness in a political system. Hence, there can be one party, two party or multi-party political systems. A more basic classification of political parties, in the words of Agbaje (1998), is that which highlights the nature of the membership of political parties. Thus, there can be:
Branch/mass parties whose membership is composed of different sections of political society.
Caucus/elitist parties whose membership is drawn mainly from the upper class of society.
Religious parties whose membership is determined by nature of religions affiliation.
Broker parties with membership drawn from both the rich and poor classes of society.
Charismatic parties formed around individuals with unique talents and whose membership cuts across identity and class lines (Olarinmoye, 2008).
Juxtaposition – wise, while a great deal of the problems confronting political party development in Nigeria’s history can be linked to behavioral and attitudinal dispositions of the political elite, on the door-step of the institutions that have been saddled with the responsibility for the regulations of these parties, experiences have shown that there is an elitist manipulation of political parties. This is coupled with the fact that the roles of political parties are punctured, and truncated by various negative activities such as polarizing and widening gap between and /or among ethnic groups. Also, the syndromes of unhealthy rivalry, marginalizing tool, exploitative mechanism, expropriating role, as well as, the low institutionalization of these political parties have snowballed into inter and intra party rivalry/crisis.
1.2 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM
Political parties have long been recognized as essential components of representative democracy. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine how the governance of modern states could be accomplished without meaningful political parties. By organizing voters, aggregating and articulating interests, crafting policy alternatives and providing the basis for coordinated electoral and legislative activity, well-functioning political parties are central not just to representative government but also to the process of democratic development in transitional democracies like Nigeria.
Parties perform a number of essential functions that make democracy in modern states possible. Ideally, they represent political constituencies and interests, recruit and socialize new candidates for office, set policy-making agendas, integrate disparate groups and individuals into the democratic process, and form the basis of stable political coalitions and hence governments. Collectively, this means that political parties are among the primary channels for building accountable and responsive government.
Beyond these functional activities, parties also provide a number of deeper, systemic supports that help make democracy work effectively, for instance:
They mediate between the demands of the citizenry on the one hand and the actions of the government on the other, aggregating the diverse demands of the electorate into coherent public policy.
They make effective collective action possible within legislatures. Without the predictable voting coalitions that parties provide, there would be chaos as legislative majorities shifted from issue to issue and vote to vote.
By providing a link between ordinary citizens and their representatives, parties are also the primary channel in democratic systems for holding governments accountable for their performance.
Yet in many transitional democracies in general, and in the Nigerian State in particular, parties struggle to play these roles. Instead, parties exhibit a range of pathologies that undercut their ability to deliver the kind of systemic benefits on which representative politics depends. For instance:
They are frequently poorly institutionalized, with limited membership, weak policy capacity and shifting bases of support;
They are often based around narrow personal, regional or ethnic tiers, rather than reflecting society as a whole;
They are typically organizationally thin, coming to life only at election time;
They may have little in the way of a coherent ideology;
They often fail to stand for any particular policy agenda;
They are frequently unable to ensure disciplined collective action in parliament, with members shifting between parties;
As a result, parties often struggle to manage social conflicts and fail to deliver public goods and thus to promote development.
The aftermath of the aforementioned is poor electoral process snowballing into legitimacy crisis which is one of the major impediments of an enduring democracy (the Nigerian State inclusive). The political topsy-turvy arising from poor/ weak parties and party system development notwithstanding, the factors that negatively impacted on the Nigerian party and party system development are multi-faceted, which ranges from ethnicity, poor.
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