THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL CONFLICT IN NIGERIAN DEMOCRACY (A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED POLITICAL PARTIES IN ABUJA)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Nigeria amongst other countries in Africa has encountered several political conflict incidences, before and during its time as a democracy. This composition examines election conflict and democracy, particularly in Nigeria. It is apposite to state that political conflict is the hallmarks of weakly institutionalize politics.

The starkest manifestation of such violence is armed conflict in the form of civil war. Though elections which are supposed to be a significant pillar in the democratic process of a country with the twin principles of political participation and accountability is precisely in the greatest and most notable violations of the occurrence of this principles.

Everyone wants to win, and nobody wants to lose. It is obvious that for any political critic to say anything considered ‘negative’ about any political office holder, he should be ready to bear the risk of being molested. According to Adekanye in (Alfa & Otaida, 2012), an objective review of the Nigerian political journey would reveal that political violence has been part and parcel of the country’s history.

What is however new are the metamorphoses of the violence; which is now in shapes, magnitude and consequences? No country can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and acrimony.

Nigeria would have been one of the leading economics of the world but its movement has been anticlockwise due largely to the fact that monumental resources are channelled into security votes, conflict resolution and reconstruction as a result of perennial political violence: since political power is the major source of wealth in Nigeria, the contest for political office is always a ‘do or die’ affair (Ake, 1981 & Tenuche, 2011 in Alfa & Otaida, 2012).

Democracy in Nigeria since the first republic has faced with lots of hurdles which included electoral conflict in form of conflict; making it more or less difficult for the true principles of democracy to emerge. Due to political conflict and political thuggery, an average Nigerian cannot differentiate between democratic governance and leadership by imposition; this of course has made a significant number of the citizens to see democracy as synonymous with death and destruction.

The common citizens of the nation are placed far from the realities of democracy both in participation and the dividends of democracy. The terrible nature of the election and electioneering campaigns in Nigeria has defeated the true concept of democracy and has alienated the electorates from their political environment.

This situation is one of the greatest threats to democracy such that the survival of phenomenon has been put to jeopardy. The separation of the electorates from the process of selecting their leaders in a democratic dispensation is a way of imposing wrong and autocratic leaders on the masses and engendering of antidemocratic principles in the political system.

Through the process of selecting the party candidate to the general election in Nigeria, democratic principle is undermined leaving the process at the mercy of party king makers and the men in possession of weapons and might.

The electorates are terrified and intimidated out of the selection and election platform while the men with good intention knowledge and character are terrified out of electoral process making Nigeria young democracy more or less the meeting of the vultures which end at producing wrong and disgruntled leaders. Democracy, the most preferred system of government (for its perceived ability to comfort all and sundry) is bedevilled in Nigeria by political violence occasioned according to some scholars by bad governance.

Democracy, expectedly, is a government of the people by the people for the people. However, this applies in the developed world where democracy is already a product. In Nigeria and other third world countries, democracy is still a process and indeed a means to an end and not yet an end in itself.

For these reasons, scholars of democracies the world over differ in opinion about what democracy represents. Consequently, there are two major groups: the first group sees Democracy as a ‘cherished ideal’ while the second group sees it as mere instrument of oppression.

The positivists, looking at democracy from the point of view of the practice in the developed world argues that democracy implies the rule by the people, the triumph of the will of the people, rule of law, egalitarianism, utilitarianism, constitutions, civil liberties and universal franchise. On the other hand the leftists believe that democracy is poised to destroying order, stability, discipline and moral rectitude which aristocracy and oligarchy have always maintained.

Through democracy man commits the following offences against one another and the society at large. The majority’s ambivalence to a comprehensive social justice; political instability, often tending to war and tyranny; the lack of moral virtues, promoted by a politics of ambition popular rhetoric, the entrenchment of a few in long possession of offices; the wide spread pursuit of indolent pleasures; the injustices occasioned by a superficial and selfish ethic of egalitarianism; majoritarianism and general licentiousness; the absence of genuine social or moral aims.

However, be that as it may, democracy has begun in Nigeria and Nigeria must strive to consolidate the democratic culture because of its inherent advantages: – freedom to form and join association, freedom of expression, universal adult suffrage, the eligibility of citizens to seek political office, the right of political leaders to compete freely for votes and support, the existence of alternative sources of information, free and fair election and accountable government.

This research will therefore attempt to determine what political violence, its causes, objectives, consequences on governance and the relationship between Political violence and the attainment of Democratic stability in Nigeria.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Political conflict has been rooted in Nigerian democracy such that they have killed the spirit of genuine political participation both at the leadership level and among the electorates. Where these abound, the future of democracy is in doubt save for the reinforcement of autocracy, military in civilian regalia and militancy politics in disguise.

Among the African nations, political conflict in the form of using the unemployed youth and the security agency by the political demagogues has created a serious setbacks and underdevelopment as the electorates are discouraged from participating in political activities.

Democracy as one of the important agenda before the United Nations, to protect human rights and encourage development, has been endangered by political conflict making it necessary to scientifically evaluation.

There has been a high level of political apathy resulting to low turnout during general elections in Nigeria. Although some scholars have alleged it is on the account of political conflict and lack of faith in Nigerian democracy, the present study is focused on the indices of true democracy such as political participation at the grass root among the electorates and the public perception of the image of democracy in Nigeria in the face of constant electoral conflict.

1.3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine the impact of political conflict in Nigerian democracy. Other specific objectives are as follows;

1. To examine the attitude to Nigerian democracy among the people of the nation.
2. To examine the causes of political conflict in Nigeria.
3. To examine the impact of political conflict on democratic stability.
4. To examine the factors that can explain the public perception of democracy in Nigeria as a nation.
5. To examine the relationship between political conflict and democratic stability in Nigeria.
6. To examine the measures to curb political conflict for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the attitude to Nigerian democracy among the people of the nation?
2. What are the causes of political conflict in Nigeria?
3.  What is the impact of political conflict on democratic stability?
4. What are the factors that can explain the public perception of democracy in Nigeria as a nation?
5. What is the relationship between political conflict and democratic stability in Nigeria?
6. What are the measures to curb political conflict for sustainable democracy in Nigeria?

1.5. RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1

H0: Political conflict has no significant impact on democratic stability in Nigeria.

H1: Political conflict has a significant impact on democratic stability in Nigeria.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between political conflict and democratic instability in Nigeria.

H1: There is a significant relationship between political conflict and democratic instability in Nigeria.

1.6. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this timely and topical study is twofold: practical and academic. Practically, this study will be of paramount importance to the elections management bodies in Nigeria especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the registered political parties, authorities of the non-governmental organizations, the national and state governments as well as the general public for the following reasons:

This research/study is significant as it aims to provide lasting solution to the causes of political conflicts which constitute adverse effects on the democratic process in Nigeria. It is also relevant to researchers, policy makers, practical statesmen, students. The study will also contribute to the body and encourage other writers or researchers to carryout similar work in the field.

1.7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to the impact of political conflict in Nigerian democracy, case study of selected political parties in Nigeria, Abuja.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Election: This is the formal way of choosing someone who will govern the public, by means of electing or voting for that person or political party (Eulau, Gibbins and Webb, 2019).

Democracy: Democracy in its basic form is when people rule or govern. Higher power lies with the people and is either applied by them or the party which they have voted for. What should be also considered with democracy is that the majority vote rules (Zimmermann, 2012).

Conflict: Aggressive actions from one person or party which are inflicted onto another and could therefore be caused by someone wanting to transform a government or situation (Jacquin, 2017: Internet).

Political conflict: Political conflict refers to any acts of hostility or aggression before, after or during the election process. These actions involve physically or verbally threatening people who will be voting, forcefully interrupting the election process, or even to hurt anyone who is involved in the elections (Egobueze and Ojirika, 2017).

Political Party:  Is defined as an organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.

Democracy: Is defined as a political system that is run and controlled by citizens of the country. Democracies are made up of elected representatives and require that governmental measures be voted on by these elected representatives or the people. Democracies are not universal and are implemented and enforced in different manner.

Nigeria: Nigeria is a country located in western Africa and is currently the most affluent country in all of Africa according to GDP. Its capital city is Abuja and it has over a hundred spoken languages, with a population of 190, 9 million in 2017 (McKenna, 2017).