THE ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA
Abstract
There is a profound paradox about the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria. The party, which earned the respect and admiration of most Nigerians, in the period between 1999-2007 due to its politics and policies. This work based on direct study and use of secondary data examines the role of the PDP in governance in the period (1999-2007). The work revealed that the PDP government has grossly been disappointing in its performance in the management of the affairs of the Nigerian state. Thus between 1999-2007, Nigerians have suffered deep crisis of expectation as there had been serious erosion, impairment and debasement of the values of governance as reflected in macro economic instability, widespread corruption, deepening democratic crisis, human rights violations, insecurity, frustration, disillusionment and increasing lost of people‟s confidence in the PDP government. Arising from the foregoing, the work recommended among others ways on how to reorganize the PDP for effective governance in Nigeria.
Table of contents
Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1.4 Significance of the Study
1.5 Literature Review
1.6 Theoretical Framework
1.7 Hypothesis
1.8 Scope and Limitation of Study
1.9 Method of Data Collection
Chapter Two: Emergence of Political Parties in Nigeria
2.1 Historical Overview
2.2 Party Organizations
2.3 Functions of Political Parties in Nigeria
Chapter Three: Internal Democracy Role of the PDP
3.1 Candidate Selection/Recruitment Procedures
3.2 Party Funding and its Implications on Political Recruitment
3.3 Political Enlightenment
Chapter Four: The Role Of Pdp In Nigeria as Ruling Party
4.1 The Economic Policy Role of the PDP
4.2 The PDP Government and Anti Corruption Policies -
4.3 National Security/Protection of Lives and Properties
4.4 Fundamental Human Rights
4.5 Constitutionality of Government
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary of Findings, Conclusion, Recommendations
5.1 Summary of Findings
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Background of the study
Democratic governance with its ideal of elective representation,
freedom of choice of leaders, role of law, freedom of expression,
accountability e.t.c has become the acceptable system of government all
over the world. It is a form a government in which the supreme power of a
political community rest on popular sovereignty. According to Oyovbaire
(1987) democracy as a system of government seeks to realize a generally
recongised common good through a coolective initiation and discussion
of policy questions concerning public affairs and which delegate
authority to agent to implement the broads decisions made by the people
through majority vote. Thus, in contemporary times, democracy has been
referred to as the expression of popular will of the political community
through elected representative. The contemporary democracy according to
Rapheal (1976) rest on representatives government. Democratic
governance in Nigeria has been a different things when compared to what
is obtainable in other part of the world. The respect for human right
and rule of law which are the main features of democracy are not visible
especially between 1999 and 2007; election rigging and gangsterism is
the order of the day that one can hardly differentiate between
democratic government and autocracy.
In modern societics,
political parties are very essential to political process. They have
become veritable instrument or adjunct of democracy in any democratic
system. Political parties are not only instrument for capturing
political power, but they are also vehicle for the aggregation of
interests and ultimate satisfaction at such interests through the
control of government. Obviously political parties are crucial to the
substanance of democtratic governance. As Agbaje (1999) note that the
extents to which political parties aggregate accountability, represent
and organize determines the level of accountability in public life
including access to and use of power as well as political performance.
Merkel (1977:99) summarized the basic functions of political parties as
follows:
Recruitment and selection of leadership personnel for government offices.
Generation of programmes and policies of government.
Co-ordination and control of government organ.
Social
integration through satisfaction and reconciliation of group demands or
the provision of common belief system or ideology.
Social integration of individuals by moboilization of support and by socialization.
Generally,
political parties are very essential to democratic governance. It
constitute a central instrument of democratic governance. It provides
the means of promoting accountability, collective action, popular
participation, inclusiveness, legitimacy and accountability through the
intrefration of their completing principles, ideologies and goals for
eventual control of the government in the state. Political parties are
the intermediate institution mediating the affairs of both the peoples
and personnel and agencies that exercise state power.
In
Nigeria, the political parties usually are formed along ethnic,
cultural, geo-political and religious lines. In everyday activities of
government one notices the fostering of primordial loyalties such as
ethnic sensivity and overt provision of other selfish political
tendencies as a result, the political class has always remained benefit
of viable political ideology on which the nation`s has reduced party
politics to a broad and bother game where monetization of political
process is the bedrock of loyalty and support. This has eroded the aim
of the democratic system.
Since, military disengaged from
political power in may 1999, the PDP has dominated governance in
Nigeria. After eight years of the party in governance which earned the
result and admiration of the most Nigeria electorates at the polls due
to its programmes and policies, the party is loathed in the country. The
average Nigeria encounters frustration, disillusionment, and psycho
moral dislocation owing to the failure of the Peoples Democratic party
(PDP) government to device expected dividends at democracy.
The task of its research is to examine the role of the ruling political parties governance in Nigeria`s fourth republic.
1.2 statement of problem
The emergence of democratic governance in Nigeria political system in
1999 was a land mark in the political development of Nigeria. After
fifteen years of persistent dictatorship, the return of democracy was
received with pump and peagentry by civil societies, labour union, civil
rights organization etc. hope was very high in the area of human right
which are completely absent during the dictatorship rule.
It
was expected that the dividend of democracy would be realized through
the political parties which are the means through the politican reach
the public and make their promises and manifestoes available to the
people.
These research therefore focuses on investigating the
role of Nigerian political parties in democratic governance since
1999-2007 with emphasis on PDP. The investigation would be guided by the
following research questions:
How does the circumstances leading to
the emergence and formation of political parties impact on internal
democracy in the political parties.
Did the programme enhance democratic governance in Nigeria in the forth republic.
How were these programmes implemented to provide good governance to the people of Nigeria?
1.3 objectives of the study
The purpose of the study is to highlight the role of political parties
in democratic government in Nigeria, the fouth republic as a case
study.
The study will critically analysis the issues as follows;
To examine the circumstance leading to the formation of political party and its impact on internal democracy of the party.
To examine the pragrammes of the party with a view of establishing their relevance to democratic governance.
To determine whether these programmes and policies were implemented with a view to enhance democratic governance.
1.4 significant of the study
This work has two aspect of significance: firstly, it will
theoretically increase the existing body of knowledge in the scholarship
on political parties and democratic governance in Nigeria.
Secondly, the research will practically be of immense values to
political leaders and policy makers in Nigeria and will also enlighten
the masses on responsibility of parties in democratic governance by so
doing, it will go a long way in providing practical solution to some of
the problems of political parties in Nigeria democratic system.
Equally, the study will serve as a contribution to the measures to be taken to enhance sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
Finally, the study will serve as a motivation for further inquiry in
the area of political parties and governance in Nigeria.
1.5 Research Hypothesis
The
circumstance leading to emergence and formation of political parties
tended to undermine internal democracy and national development in
Nigeria.
Some programme of political parties tended to be anti-democratics.
The implementation of political parties in the forth republic seems not to promote good governance.
1.6 Scope of the study
The scope of this study will cover essentially the role of political
parties in democratic governance in Nigeria fourth republic.
1.7 Methodology
The methodology adopted in the study is a blend of historical
descriptive and analytical research methods. The historical research
will allow us to describes the antecedent and precedents from the past
and present and learn from them which can be purely factual and
descriptive. This means invariably the source of the data will be mainly
library research and content analysis. This library will involve the
use of relevant political parties and democratic governance in Nigeria
forth republic and other relevant books on the study.
1.8 Definition of terms
Political
party by definition is an organized group of citizens, who act together
as a political, unit, having common goals and objectives involving
political questions in the state and acting together and seeking to
obtain control of government.
Polities: is the activities that
involves in getting and using power in public life, and being able to
influence decisions that affects a country or society.
Democracy is a system of government by the majority.
Democracy
is defined as a form of government in which people exercise their
governing power either directly or through representatives periodically
elected by them.