THE GENERAL EXPLICATIONS OF THE NATURE OF POLITICAL PARTIES, ELECTORAL RULES AND PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

For any keen observer of event in Nigeria, it may not be far-fetched to argue that reversals and disruptions have over the years been the defining character of Nigeria’s political life. Perspectives exits that link such manifestations of instability as persistent conflicts, unrests and leadership turnover against the background of myriad of reasons and difficulties. It is true, for example, that efforts are normally made to link systematic breakdown of the problems of leadership (o’Donnel and Schmitter, 1986; Ali Kazancigil, 1997). Other explanation attribute the political malaise to the inherent weakness of the manner by which the country came into existence, the weakness of the existing political institutions as well as the fragility of the civil society (Bert A. Rockman, 1997; and Larry Dramond, et.al 1987). Notwithstanding variations in interpretations, it is the dominant paradigm that political instability, or better still, the failure to effectively institute and consolidate democracy in the country, is attributable to some of the variable mentioned above.
Our contention in this work is that over the period since independence, the country has witnessed the systematic erosion of those elements in the general society that are considered desirable for the enthronement of democratic governance. Precisely, such essential of democracy as political participation, electoral competition, and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, among others, have been systematically denigrated by different governmental policies and actions. Specifically, we intend to argue that given the events that unfolded in Nigeria’s march to democracy over the years, and especially in the tumultuous years of the transition to democracy in the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s year and beyond, (for instance, the experience of fourth republic (1999 – 2003) there is ample cause to believe that the fragility in the political party institution of society, as well as its interface with the regime of obnoxious rules in the electoral process, account for the apparent lack of coherence in the democratic project in the country. In other words, any attempt to come to grips with the why(s) of democratic stress in the country, must necessarily considered the issue of the interface between the party system thriving in the country, the effect of rules and procedures guiding electoral contest and the success or failure of democracy and democratic governance.
We shall proceed by dividing this paper into four sections: section one is the introduction, the second is on political parties, party system and the democratic project, section three addresses the issue of electoral rules and the electoral process while section four conclude the paper.