Party System, Internal Crisis and Governance in Nigeria

Samuel Ogunwa

doi:10.32890/jgd2026.22.1.3

Pengarang

Samuel Ogunwa Department of Political Science and International Relations, College of Business and Social Sciences, Crawford University, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/jgd2026.22.1.3

Kata kunci:

Party system, internal crisis, party member, power struggle, Nigeria

Abstrak

Internal party conflict is a recurring phenomenon in multiparty democracies. This phenomenon is centered on the struggle for power and control, which all party governments and non-party governments coveted. This has led to party disorganization, fractionalization, and the movement of party members to other political parties, thereby leading to the proliferation of more political parties by some party founders and chieftains in order to realize their political ambitions, despite the enormous resources and sacrifices they made on the old party platforms. The paper argues that internal conflicts have affected party organizations cum members with several consequences on democracy and delivery of democratic governance because the party governments have concentrated their attention on the crises in their political parties, as opposed to the provision of public utilities such as infrastructure, healthcare system, security, goods, and social services. The effect of internal crises made the ruling political parties, nationally and state-wise, contribute largely to poor governance in the country. The paper concludes that the internal conflicts in party system in Nigeria can be eliminated if the party organizations adhere to extant laws and believe in the sanctity of democracy that a loser in an electoral contest can actually become a winner someday as well as to concentrate on the provision of democratic dividends for the people of Nigeria.

Rujukan

Adejumobi, S. (Ed.) (2010). Governance and politics in the post-military Nigeria. Palgrave Macmillan.

Adekeye, M. A., & Ambali, A. (2017). Party primaries, candidate selection and intra-party conflict in Nigeria: PDP in perspective. International Journal of Politics and Good Governance, VIII(8), 1-36.

Adele, B. J. (2006). Political parties and democracy in Nigeria. Ijede Commercial Enterprises.

Agbaje, A., & Adejumobi, S. (2006). Do votes count? The travails of electoral politics in Nigeria. Africa Development Issues, XXXI(3), 25-44.

Agbaje, A. (2015). Political parties and pressure groups. In R. Anifowose & F. Enemuo (Eds.), Elements of Politics (pp. 191-209). Sam Iroanusi Publications Limited.

Akinbade, J. A. (2008). Government explained. Macak Books Ventures.

Aldrich, J. H. (1995). Why parties? The origin and transformation of political parties in America. The University of Chicago Press.

Anifowose, R. (2004). Political parties and party-system in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria: Issues, problems and prospects. In L. Olurode & R. Anifowose (Eds.), Issues in Nigeria’s 1999 general elections (pp. 78-95). Rebonik Publications Ltd.

Anifowose, R. (2006). Violence and politics in Nigeria: The Tiv and Yoruba experience. First Academic Publishers. Journal of Governance and Development, Vol. 22, Number 1 (January) 2026, pp: 40-

Bentley, A. F. (1961). The process of government. University of Chicago Press.

Benvenisti, E. (2002). Party primaries as collective action with constitutional ramifications: Israel as a case study. Theoretical Inquiries in Law, 3(1), 175-195.

Bille, L. (2001). Democratizing a democratic procedure: Myth or reality. Party Politics, 7(3), 363-380.

Blondel, J. (1969). Party systems and patterns of government in a segmented society. Canadian Journal of Political Science, 1(2), 180-203.

Boucek, F. (2009). Rethinking factionalism: Typologies, intra-party dynamics and three faces of factionalism. Party Politics, 15(4), 455-485.

Boulding, K. (1963). Conflict and defense. Harper & Row.

Desposato, S. W. (2006) Parties for rent? Ambition, ideology and party-switching in Brazil’s chamber of deputies. American Journal of Political Science, 50(1), 62-80.

Downs, A. (1957). An economic theory of democracy. Harper and Row.

Duverger, M. (1954). Political parties: Their organization and activities in the modern state. Methuen.

Fukuyama, F. (2015). Why is democracy performing so poorly? Foreign Policy, 26(1), 11–20.

Gauba, O. P. (2011). An introduction to political theory (4th ed.). McMillan.

Gauja, A. (2006). Enforcing democracy? Towards a regulatory regime for the implementation of intra-party democracy. Democratic Audit of Australia. http://aceproject.org/electoral-advice

Gavan, D. (2001). Political turnover and social change in Senegal. Journal of Democracy, 12(3), 51-62.

Ibrahim, B. S., & Abubakar, Y. (2015). Political parties and intra party conflict in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: The experience of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), (pp. 112-132). ResearchGate. https//doi.org.10.13140/RG.2.1.2479.2724

International IDEA. (2005). Dialogue on political parties and governance in the SADC Region.

Ikechukwu, U.G. (2015). Parties parallel primaries and its implication to political development in Nigeria. Developing Country Studies, 5(10), 109-121.

Janda, K. (1970). A conceptual framework for the comparative analysis of political parties. In H. Eckstein & T. R. Gurr (Eds.), Sage professional papers in comparative politics (pp. 78-126). Sage Publications, Inc.

Joab-Peterside, S. (2013 December 2). The economy, the rogues and the law: The development conundrum. 2013 Annual Law and Social Development Lecture.

Joseph, R. (1999). Democracy and prebendal politics in Nigeria: The rise and fall of the second republic. Spectrum Books Ltd.

Kapur, A. G. (2008). Principles of political science. S. Chand and Company Ltd.

Kenig, O. (2008). Democratization of party leadership selection: Do wider electorates produce more competitive contests? Electoral Studies, 28(2), 240-247.

Kruks-Wisner, G. (2021). Great expectations, great grievances: The politics of citizens’ complaints in India. Comparative Politics, 54(1), 27-64.

Kura, S. Y. B. (2011). Political parties and democracy in Nigeria: Candidate selection, campaign and party financing in people’s democratic party. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 13(6), 268-298.

Lachapelle, S., & Hellmeier, S. (2024). Pathways to democracy after authoritarian Breakdown. Comparative case selection and lessons from the past. International Political Science Review, 45(1), 123-143. https://doi.org/10.1177/01925121221138408

LaPalombara, J., & Weimar, M. (Eds.) (1966). Political parties and political development. Princeton University Press.

LaPalombara, J. (2007). Reflections on political parties and political development four decades later. Party Politics, 13(2), 141–154.

Liebowitz, J., & Ibrahim, J. (2013). A capacity assessment of Nigerian political parties. Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Program. UNDP. Journal of Governance and Development, Vol. 22, Number 1 (January) 2026, pp: 40-

MacIver, R. M. (1964). The modern state. Oxford University Press.

Mahajan, V. D. (2017). Political theory. Chad and Company Limited.

Momodu, A. J., & Ika, M. G. (2013). The implications of intra-party conflicts on Nigeria’s democractization. Global Journal of Human Social Science Political Science, 13(6), 1-13.

Momoh, A. (2013, June 26-28). Party system and democracy in Nigeria. Paper presented at National Conference on Political Parties and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria.

Muhammad, M. (2008). Intra party relations and conflict in Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 5(1), 42-50.

Mundt, R. J., Aborisade, O., & LeVan, A. (2008). Politics in Nigeria. In G. A. Almond, Comparative politics today: A world view (9th ed., pp. 661-711). Pearson Longman.

Neumann, S. (1965). Modern political parties. University of Cambridge Press.

Norris, P. (2004). Building political parties: Reforming legal regulations and internal rules. IDEA.

Obasanjo, O. (2014). My watch: Now and then, Volume 3. Kachifo Limited.

Odukoya, A. (2013). Party system and political conflicts in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. In A.S. Obiyan & K. Amuwo (Eds.), Nigeria’s democratic experience in the Fourth Republic since 1999: Policies and politics. University of Press of America.

Ogunwa, S. A. (2012). Problems and prospects of the opposition in Nigeria’s political system. Ilorin Journal of Sociology, 4(1), 151-178.

Ogunwa, S. A. (2014). Political parties and party opposition in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: 1999-2014. In G. L. Adeola (Ed.), Opposition political parties and democratization in Africa (pp. 125-138). ADLA Communications Limited.

Ogunwa, S. A. (2022a). Party politics and opposition politics in Africa: Present or absent in Nigeria? In G. L. Adeola (Ed.), Opposition political parties and democratization in Africa: A study in profundity (pp. 823-852). Crawford University Press.

Ogunwa, S. A. (2022b). Rethinking party politics and governance in Nigeria. Journal of International Politics and Development, 20(1&2), 55-66.

Oji, O. R. (2024). Corruption and national development: A study of Nigeria (2015-2023). Integrity Journal of Arts and Humanities, 5(3), 148-160. https://doi.org/10.31248/ IJAH2024.172

Ojukwu, C. C., & Olaifa, T. (2011). Challenges of internal democracy in Nigeria’s political parties: The bane of intra-party conflicts in the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria. Global Journal of Human Social Science, 11(3), 24-34.

Okereka, O. P. (2015). Understanding the thrust of the group theory and its applicability to contemporary party politics in Nigeria. Public Policy and Administration Research, 5(5), 99-105.

Okoli, A. C., & Ali, H. A. (2014). Dialectics of intra-party opposition in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: Insights from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP). European Scientific Journal, 10(7), 249-259.

Okoosi-Simbine, A. T. (2005). Political vibrancy and democratic consolidation in Nigeria. In G. Onu & A. Momoh (Eds.), Elections and democratic consolidation in Nigeria (pp. 17-33). A-Triad Associates (Educational Publishers & Printers).

Olaniyan, A. (2009). Inter and intra party squabbles in Nigeria. In I. S. Ogundiya et al. (Eds.), A decade of Re-democratization in Nigeria (1999-2009). Ayayayuyu Publishers.

Olasunkanmi, A. (2015). Politics by elimination: Implications of political violence on Nigeria democratic governance. World Engineering & Applied Sciences Journal, 6(1), 27-31.

Ologbenla, D. K., & Nwomeh, D. (2007). The party primaries. In L. Olurode, S. Akinboye, & R. Akinyemi (Eds.), Nigeria’s 2007 elections: The crisis of political succession. Rebonik Publications Ltd.

Omoruyi, O. (2002). Parties and politics in Nigeria advancing democracy in Africa. African Studies Center. Journal of Governance and Development, Vol. 22, Number 1 (January) 2026, pp: 40-

Omotola, J. S. (2009). Nigerian parties and political ideology. Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 1(3), 612-634.

Omotola, J. S. (2010). Political parties and the quest for political stability in Nigeria. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 6(2), 125-145.

Onyishi, A. O. (2015). Between man and his institutions: Intra-party politics and the future of democracy in Nigeria. http://www.bris.ac.uk/medialibrary/sites/sps/documents/policy--politics /Onyishi%20Intra-Party% 20Politics%20in%20Nigeria.docx.

Osaghae, E. E. (1998). Crippled giant: Nigeria since independence. Hurst and Company.

Oyadiran, P., & Olorungbemi, S. T. (2016). Party conflicts and democratic consolidation in Nigeria (1999-2007). Global Journal of Political Science and Administration, 4(2), 39-67.

Papada, E., & Lindberg, S. I. (2022). Case for democracy: Does democracy promote gender equality? V-Dem Policy Brief, 37. University of Gothenburg.

Randall, V. (2006, July 9-13). Party institutionalization and its implications for democracy. Paper presented at the IPSA Congress, Fukuoka.

Randall, V. (2007). Political parties and democratic development. Development Policy Review, 25(5), 633-652.

Ranny, A., & Kendall, W. (1956). Democracy and the American party system.

Roucek, J. S., Huszar, G. B., & Associates. (1950). Introduction to political science. Thomas Y. Crowell Company.

Salih, M. A. M. (2006). The challenges of internal party democracy in Africa. In UNDP, A handbook on working with political parties. UNDP.

Sartori, G. (1976). Parties and party systems: A framework for analysis. Cambridge University Press.

Saskia, P., & Grahn, S. (2023). Threat or corrective to democracy? The relationship between populism and different models of democracy. European Journal of Political Research, 62, 677-698. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6765.12564

Scarrow, S. (2005). Political parties and democracy in theoretical and practical perspectives: Implementing intra-party democracy. NDI.

Shale, C., & Matolsa, K. (2008). Political parties programme handbook. Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa.

Shively, W. P. (2008). Power and choice: An introduction to political science (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Simba, S. K. (2011, September 15-16). Internal governance structures of political parties in democratic governance. Paper presented at the 1st EAC Consultative Meeting for Political Parties in East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya.

Truman, D. B. (1961). The group concept. In S. S. Ulmer (Ed.), Introductory readings in political behavior (pp. 191-199). Rand McNally and Company.

Tyoden, S. G. (2002). Inter and intra party relations: Towards a more stable party system in Nigeria. The Constitution: A. J. Constitutional Development, 3, 1-23.

Varieties of Democracy Institute. (2022). Case for democracy: Does democracy have dividends for education? V-Dem Policy Brief, 35. University of Gothenburg.

Weber, M. (1968). Economy and society. The University of California Press.

Weber, M. (1971). The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. University Books.

Yaqub, N. O. (2002). A critical assessment of the presidential model of democracy. In A.M. Jega & H. Wakili (Eds.), The question of democracy – Direct or representative? Benchmark Publishers Ltd.