Pdf a contextual analysis of party system formation in nigeria. Party system and nigeria political development projectclue. Review of international assistance to political party and party system. Mar 20, 2019 a political party may like to rule for many years without giving up power. The existing theoretical literature identifies factors and processes that are splitenabling. It is a history of an army created by a colonial power, which engaged in the political governance of a nation and forever changed itself from what the western world regards as an army. Location, demography, and prewar politics 67 the shagari regime. If the political party has a desire to become closer to the. Political party formation in presidential and parliamentary. How to register a political party in nigeria lawpadi. Herbert macaulay, popularly referred to as father of nigerian nationalism. Ethnic politics and democratic consolidation in nigeria.
The party was dominated by the hausa fulanis, and islam was the main focus. The first major political assassinations after independence came with the 1966 coup and the execution of prime minister balewa, along with premiers ahmadu bello and samuel akintola and finance minister festius okotie eboh. The all progressives congress apc is a political party in nigeria, formed on 6 february 20 in anticipation of the 2015 elections. The constitution of nigeria discusses political parties in. Thus, we at lawpadi decided to share with nigerians the steps required to register a political party in nigeria. In the post1994 period, the most significant breakaway and formation of a new political party was that of cope in 2008. Imperial britain acquired and administered nigeria like other.
Political parties, party system and leadership recruitment in. At independence the formal approval of government before a party was allowed to operate was not really required. This is a fundamental right guaranteed by section 40 of the 1999 constitution. It started as a cultural organization, jamiyyar or mutanem arewa. Nigerian political parties serve as a representative of the citizens. The fourth republic 1992 to present has recorded about 24 registered political parties in ghana, despite the fact that the country has only two dominant parties the national democratic congress and the new patriotic party since the introduction of constitutional democracy as changes within the government has continued to rotate between these two dominant political. This is the main question, which this paper addresses with emphasis on political ideology, being the first and most important vehicle of a political party.
The second political party was the northern peoples congress npc and it. Formed in february 20, the party is the result of a merger of nigerias three biggest opposition parties the action congress of nigeria acn, the congress for progressive change cpc, the all nigeria peoples party anpp, a faction of the all progressives grand alliance apga and the new pdp a faction of then ruling peoples democratic party. National party of nigeria political party, nigeria. The quest for a lasting democracy in the postcivil war era ngozi caleb kamalu and fuabeh p. The term party has since come to be applied to all organized groups seeking political. Any political party should also provide increase the political consciousness of the people. This paper is based on political parties, party system and political leadership recruitment in nigeria since independence. The second republic collapsed largely due to the mismanagement of the economy, widespread. History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Antifederalist debates, it featured two national parties competing for control of the presidency, congress, and. Global journal of political science and administration vol. A political party may like to rule for many years without giving up power. It is argued that despite all pretences to the contrary through their. The peoples democratic party pdp is a major contemporary political party in nigeria.
The constitutional provisions for rulership in nigeria are political parties and the constitution has made the formation of parties wholly a private investment. Bulletin, 2006, be it money stolen by the political elite the case of mobutu of zaire, abacha of nigeria, and moi of kenya, just to mention a few or the recent kibaki regime angloleasing scandals in kenya, they still end up in banks in the western capitals. The oxford handbook of nigerian politics offers a comprehensive analysis of nigerias very rich history and everchanging politics to its readers. When coupled to the dynamics of organisational change, these conceptual tools provide a unique framework for analysing partypolitical dynamics in south africa from an. Party system, its peculiarities and development of political practices. Secondly, invaluably, it will contribute to academic knowledge as regards to function of political parties to political development. The two dominant parties usually form one party governments and succeed each other to forming the government. Nigeria is a federal republic, with executive power exercised by the president. It won every presidential election between 1999 and 2011, and was until the 2015 elections, the governing party in the fourth republic although in some cases, amid a few controversial electoral circumstances. Yet as elischer shows in this careful analysis of ten african countries, the picture is more complicated. This is one of the main functions of political parties in democracy. Its important that they keep in touch with the people. Pdf analytical study of political party systems in nigeria.
Contending issues and the way forward idike, adeline nnenna, ph. Full list of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Beyond the various reforms in the nigerian party system, therefore, this study hazards an observation that putting. The successor political party to the defunct ag, unity party of nigeria upn served as the main opposition party in the second republic. He was detained for 10 months following a coup that brought muhammad buhari to power at the end of. The first party system is a model of american politics used by political scientists and historians to periodize the political party system existing in the united states between roughly 1792 and 1824. It was formed in 1923 and under the leadership of sir. Political party development in nigeria political science. Pass around a paper or online form that announces it as a petition to create a political party. Political parties and democracy in theoretical and practical.
This may simply be a hard number, like, or it may be a certain percentage of voters registered in your area, like 5 percent. 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. There are now more democracies in africa than at any other time since independence in the 1960s. In 1959, there were three political parties in the country and they include the following. On 15 january 1966, major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu and his fellow rebel soldiers most of who were of southern extraction and were led by major emmanuel ifeajuna of the nigerian army, executed a bloody takeover of all institutions of government. Political violence in nigeria is not a particular feature of civilian regimes. National party of nigeria political party, nigeria britannica. In nigeria, we have seen many situations where political parties fight one another. Party primaries throughout the country clearly show that nigeria political parties are not operating within norms of democratic principles. Other parties have little or no potential for political pressure or coalitions. There has also been one example of party split and schism in postapartheid south africa, that of the da. History and development of political parties in nigeria.
Various political parties have failed to adopt the provisions of the partys constitutions to all party members who are eligible and want to run for office in their party primaries. The objective of the paper is to trace the political history of nigeria from independence particularly in the area of political leadership recruitment, outline the failures recorded so far and make suggestions for improvement through appropriate reforms by. Nigerias population to be 31,559,026, the political parties all agreed that there should be approximately one seat in the new house of representatives to every 100,000 persons in nigeria. When coupled to the dynamics of organisational change, these conceptual tools provide a unique framework for analysing party political dynamics in south africa from an. Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. Firstly, it will help decision making organs, institutions to determine the basis for political party formation in nigeria in order to achieve national integration and political development. The fourth republic 1992 to present has recorded about 24 registered political parties in ghana, despite the fact that the country has only two dominant parties the national democratic congress and the new patriotic party since the introduction of constitutional democracy as changes within the government has continued to rotate between these two dominant political parties. Most people do not know but there are presently 68 inec recognized political parties in nigeria updated for 2018. Evolution of political parties and public orientation in nigeria. Political parties in ghana take a look at the comprehensive. The second political party was the northern peoples congress npc and it was led by ahmadu bello. The two dominant parties usually form oneparty governments and succeed each other to forming the government.
A political platform is the ideals and positions a political party has. Most people do not know but there are presently 68 inec recognized political parties in nigeriaupdated for 2018. The president is the head of state, the head of government, and the head of a multiparty system. This party was a pannigerian political party led by the last governorgeneral and first president of independent nigeria, dr. Political party in nigeria should perform the functions provided above. Nigerias political independence was ushered in by the 12 december 1959.
The party formation system in nigeria political party formation has followed a particular pattern in nigerias long standing, albeit tortuous, efforts at democratisation. But elischer shows that in other countries, especially ones in which there is a large core ethnic group, political parties make fewer appeals based on ethnicity, instead defining themselves through economic and social policies or by rallying around a charismatic politician. This is one of the major causes of political issues in nigeria. It further recommends that activities of political parties must not reflect discordant party politics but their formation, choice of leadership, choice of. Stage 1 get organised you need a name, logo, and acronym of the proposed party it must not be similar to any known registered political party, or have any religious, ethnic, or sectional connotation, therefore you cant register a party like christian democrats or muslim republicans. Jul 25, 2019 to qualify as a political party, youll typically need a certain number of signatures. The nigerian electoral process in perspective elections under colonial rule before independence in 1960, nigeria, which existed as an amalgamation of the. Political institutions and cultural underpinnings 68 party formation and voting behavior 68 data analysis and voting patterns among ethnic groups 70. Under nigerian law, any individual interested in running for any political office must be a registered member of a political party. A 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. To qualify as a political party, youll typically need a certain number of signatures. The volume encompasses fortyfour chapters organized thematically into essays.
Political parties originated in their modern form in europe and the united states in the 19th century, along with the electoral and parliamentary systems, whose development reflects the evolution of parties. Apc candidate muhammadu buhari won the presidential election by almost 2. Nov 11, 2017 political party are very essential to democratically organized state, since election is an integral feature of democracy, political party is highly indispensable to the practice of democracy in many parts of the world today. Thus, we often learn of the ideals a political party has from the members that support it. Instead of not winning the political position, he rigs the election to see that power comes back to the ruling party. The party produced the first prime minister of nigeria. The chapter serves as a useful background for easy understanding of the character of political parties and party politics in contemporary nigeria. Granted that nigeria is a colonial creation, the paramount determinant of political party formation was the nationalist opposition to colonial rule. An overview of party formation in nigeria, 19601999 codesria. Its policies generally lie towards the centreright of the political spectrum. The objective of the paper is to trace the political history of nigeria from independence particularly in the area of political leadership recruitment, outline the failures recorded so far and make suggestions for improvement through appropriate reforms by nigerian. Other articles where national party of nigeria is discussed. Are these heady days for nigerian political parties.
This research will examine political parties and public orientation 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. Nigerian politics takes place within a framework of a federal, presidential, representative democratic republic, in which executive power is exercised by the government. Incumbent president goodluck jonathan conceded defeat on 31 march. Political parties, party system and leadership recruitment. Volume 14 no 1 69 then the economic freedom fighters eff are examples of such parties. The first political party in nigeria is the nigeria national democratic party nndp. The second republic collapsed largely due to the mismanagement of the economy, widespread corruption and massive electoral fraud witnessed during the 1983 general elections. 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. He joined the national party of nigeria npn in january 1983 and subsequently attempted to reenter politics.
Political parties are an essential component of the democratic system. The recruitment of political leaders is one the main functions of political party in nigeria. Parties tend to be deeply and durably entrenched in specific substructures of society in a sustainable and well functioning democracy. It provides a deep understanding of nigerias sociopolitical evolution and experience by covering a broad range of political issues and historical eras. The three political parties were the national council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. The party was majorly populated by the hausafulani from the north. This book examines the effects of ethnicity on party politics in subsaharan africa. The first set of political parties to be formed in nigeria was formed in 1959, shortly before nigeria gained her independence from britain. National council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. In preindependence era, party politics in nigeria was based on ethnic factor. The formation of parties in the legislature was a natural reaction to the problem of a multidimensional issue space and the resulting instability and issue cycling.
Oxford handbook of nigerian politics oxford handbooks. Sebastian elischer analyzes political parties in ghana, kenya and namibia in detail, and provides a preliminary analysis of parties in seven other countries including tanzania, botswana, senegal, zambia, malawi, burkina faso and benin. Political party and party system support in nigeria is unfolding in a climate of. Party institutionalization is defined as the extent to which political parties develop a systematic set of mechanisms and structures that enable them to compete effectively for political power. Many assume that ethnic identity plays the main role in holding african political parties together. The history of political parties boundless political science. Diversity in political party systems report prepared for the international institute for democracy and electoral assistance international idea as part of its global programme on research and dialogue with political parties.
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