ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY
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ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY
CHAPITRE ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Currently, the cry for liberty and democracy can be heard all throughout the world. The world has witnessed a spectacular transformation from authoritarian to democratic governance.
The reality remains that no state is interested in associating with other states in which democracy is not implemented. As a result, any country seeking relevance within the global system must be recognised as democratically compliant (Omotola, 2008). African countries are not left behind in this evolution.
However, some studies suggests that the reasons for supporting democracy in Africa, notably Nigeria, do not correspond to Western perceptions. Thus, Africans view democracy in terms of economics rather than political philosophy (Saliu, 1999). On May 29, 1999, Nigeria’s democratic government was reborn as a result of global acceptance of democracy.
During the military era in Nigeria, the struggle for democratic rule was nearly identical to the anti-colonial movement. This is because both proponents and opponents of democracy in Nigeria are deeply motivated and dedicated before the shift takes place. Many of them died in the process, and some were even jailed, while those who escaped have gone into exile (Saliu, 2004).
Now that democracy has become a “public good” in Nigeria, trustworthy institutions are needed to safeguard the system. In this scenario, democratic consolidation and sustainability become critical. As a result, democratic mechanisms such as political parties are required. These Political Parties will act as mediating institutions,
allowing for the management of disparities in ideas, interests, and perceptions of political crises at any given time (Omotola, 2008). The fact that “the strength and effectiveness of Political Parties is directly proportional to the degree of resilience democracy enjoys” (Mimiko, 2007) remains unchanged.
This study is concerned with the role of political parties in the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria, as well as the extent to which parties contribute to the survival and consolidation of democracy in Nigeria, with a special focus on the PDP and APC.
Nigeria has a multi-party system, with two or three powerful parties and an electorally successful third party. According to the study, the PDP and APC are still the two most powerful parties in Nigeria.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a Nigerian political party that was founded on February 6, 2013, in preparation for the 2015 elections. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC’s presidential candidate, won by over 2.6 million votes. On March 31, incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan accepted defeat.
This was the first time in Nigerian political history that an opposition political party unseated a ruling political party in a general election, and it was also the first time that power was peacefully transferred from one political party to another. Furthermore, the APC won the majority of seats in the Senate and House of Representatives in the 2015 elections,
however it fell short of a super-majority to override the opposition People’s Democratic Party’s authority to block legislation. The party is the result of an alliance of Nigeria’s three biggest opposition parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),
the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – merged to take on the People’s Democratic Party. The party got clearance by the nation’s election umpire
Independent National election Commission (INEC) on 31 July 2013 to become a political party and subsequently withdrew the operating licenses of the three predecessor parties (the ACN, CPC and ANPP). In March of 2013,
The People’s Democratic Party is a major political party in Nigeria today. Its policies mainly lay towards the centre-right of the political spectrum. It won every Presidential election between 1999 and 2011, and was until the 2015 elections, the governing party in the Fourth Republic although in certain cases, despite a few disputed electoral conditions.
The longtime slogan of the People’s Democratic Party has been “Power to the people”. During the party’s National Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 21 May 2016, David Mark, a former President of the Senate of Nigeria, proposed
“Change the change” as the party’s campaign slogan for the 2019 general elections. However, this study is studying the contribution of both PDP and APC in the consolidation of Nigeria Democracy.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The concept that Nigeria is “consolidating its democracy” dominates mainstream rhetoric and popular discourses in the country. However, the data on the ground contradicts this claim (Momoh, 2013). It is likely most suitable to compare the relationship between political parties and the maintenance of democratic government in a given country to the umbilical cord and the foetus (Yagboyaju, 2012).
Political parties, for example, are at the centre of analysing the health of any kind of democracy (Orji, 2013), who claims that “to talk about democracy today is to talk about a system of competitive political parties.” Their responsibilities and activities are essential in evaluating democratic practice (Momoh, 2013).
Political parties were tasked with producing the right people to govern (Momoh, 2013). Competitive party and electoral politics are projected to enhance and consolidate the country’s democratic transition, which began in May 1999 (Jinadu, 2013). Despite a successful transition and transfer of power from one ruling party to the opposition party,
the system remains marred by electoral violence, corruption, and an inability to deliver on electioneering campaign promises, resulting in massive underdevelopment of every sector in the country.
As a result, the researcher believes it is appropriate to investigate the involvement of Nigeria’s two most powerful political parties in the consolidation of democracy.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s objectives:
To investigate the roles of the PDP and APC in the consolidation of Nigerian democracy.
To identify the reasons impeding the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria by political parties.
To investigate the impact of political parties’ politics and internal democracy on Nigeria’s democratic process.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
What role do the PDP and APC play in the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria?
What are the elements impeding political parties’ efforts to consolidate democracy in Nigeria?
What is the impact of political party politics and internal democracy on Nigeria’s democratic process?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO: There is no significant association between political party activities and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.
HA: There is a strong link between political party activities and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s implications:
As it defines the function of political parties in the consolidation of Nigeria democracy, the findings of this study will be valuable for policy formation by the government. It will also educate the broader public on the topic. It will also serve as a roadmap for political parties in creating manifestos that will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
This study will contribute to the body of literature on political party activity and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria, forming the empirical literature for future research in the field.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study only looks at PDP and APC. The study will also look at the efforts of the PDP and APC in terms of democracy consolidation.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Democracy: a form of government in which the entire population or all eligible members of a state govern themselves, generally through elected representatives.
Politics: the activities involved with the governance of a country or other territory, particularly dispute or conflict between persons or groups in power or aspiring to power.
Consolidation: the process of becoming or causing something to become stronger, more united, and more certain.
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