CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
The advancement of political parties in Nigeria goes back to the days of the battle for political independent in the late 1940s, when the nationalists were at the pre-independence and post-independence periods. In the pre-independence and the very early post-independence periods, political parties in Nigeria were not ideologically based. Instead, they were regionally centered and woven around individual political leaders that they saw as their mentors. In the last two decades, nevertheless parties were registered based on the exigencies of the time. This was the situation until 1998; the need arose for parties that might usher Nigeria into a brand-new age of democracy after over fifteen years of military rule. Traditionally, political parties in Nigeria have greatly developed and still play an important role to the awareness of the democratic goals. Certainly, the last sixty years have seen a development of different political parties. From 1991-1993, Nigeria practiced a two-party system, with the government forming the Social Democratic party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC). The military rule later on proscribed the parties after annulling a presidential election in 1993. However, Nigeria went back to democratic rule in 1999.
Nigeria, like lots of other African nations, has had its reasonable share of democratic challenges, however it has likewise recorded some accomplishment throughout the years. There have currently been calls throughout the nation for some adjustments and enhancements on the way political parties are run and managed, in the years ahead. Many have suggested that Nigeria should always embrace the techniques that will guarantee the rights of its citizens to choose leaders of their choice as provided for in the country's constitution.
Multi-party system has constantly been a part of the political system in Nigeria, in the first republic and second republic there was expansion of political parties in the countries democracy, the third republic brought about a different method to the political system of Nigeria when it embraced the two-party systems by the military head of state as during that time, it was stated to be in the selfish interest of Babangida that was the military dictator as at the time. The fourth republic started on May 29th 1999 when the military ultimately handed over power to the civilians; the president elect was an individual familiar to the historical archives of Nigeria in person of Obasanjo.
Accordingly, among one of the most cited definitions of consolidated democracy is "a political program where democracy as an intricate system of institutions, policies and formed incentives has become, in a phrase, the only game around, behaviourally, attitudinally and constitutionally" (Linz ans Stepan, 1996:15). Behaviourally, a regime is consolidated when the considerable actors do not consider fierce or non-democratic techniques to achieve their goals. Attitudinally, it is consolidated when most of public opinion, also when there is a significant crisis, conceive democratic procedures and institutions as one of the most suitable methods of overcoming the problems; and constitutionally, when both "governmental and nongovernmental forces alike become subject to, along with habituated to, the resolution of dispute within the bounds of particular laws and procedures, and institutions that are sanctioned by the new democratic procedure. (Linz and Stepan, 1996:15). Diamond (1999) likewise insists that consolidation occurs when democratic norms and behaviors become institutionalized on three levels: the elite level of leading decision-makers, organizational leaders, political activists and opinion shapers; the intermediate level of parties, organizations and movements; and the level of mass public.
In Nigeria, although the political arena was marginally liberalized since May 29 1999 after an extended period of military rule, the Nigerian state has continued to be predatory, repressive and totalitarian. National politics is still zero-sum and brutish. The antecedents of the present state such as suppression, predatory political behavior and parasitism continue to be in place. Instead of democratize the polity and promote inclusive politics amidst a complex plurality, the state continues to exclude increasingly more people from the political and development processes. The massively rigged general elections held in April 2007, 2019 and the recent ones in this year 2023 with the attendant nullification of gubernatorial and parliamentary results by the election petition tribunals and the appellate courts, was a sign of the failure of the state to conduct free, fair and credible elections after 63 years of political freedom. It likewise provided valuable understandings into the depth of political degeneration in the nation (Omoweh, 2012:43).
As Nigeria consolidation its democratic structure and systems, the multi-parties in Nigeria, have to exhibit a new degree of dedication to the yearnings and goals of individuals for more basic and lasting development. The recently 2023 general election in Nigeria truly had some setbacks and it truly brought the world attention to our political system. It likewise leads to them in questioning our democratic system.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In a multi-party system, political parties, being the primary tool of political growth in every existing and irrespective of their different ideological bends, various political orientations and success potentials, they are still permitted to take part in political competition for the control of machinery of government and uniting of individuals. In every contemporary society, political parties are seen to be an agent of unity, tranquility and integration and so on. in that society, however in spite of the above perception, multi-party system still holds some questions that deviate from the above. For that reason, it is to this effect that this study seeks to examine multi-party system and democratic consolidation in Nigeria (1999-2023).
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main objective of this study is to examine multi-party system and democratic consolidation in Nigeria from 1999 to 2023. However, the specific objectives include:
i) To understand the correlation between multi-party system and political development in Nigeria.
ii) To justify the existence of multi-party system on democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
iii) To find out ways of ensuring an improved democratic process through multiparty system in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
The underlisted statements were considered to be the research questions for this study:
i) What is the correlation between multi-party system and political development in Nigeria?
ii) Does the existence of multi-party system have any impact on democratic consolidation in Nigeria?
iii) What are the ways of ensuring an improved democratic process through multiparty system in Nigeria?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The research hypotheses for this study include:
i) There is a significant correlation between multi-party system and political development in Nigeria
ii) There is no significant relationship between the existence of multi-party system and democratic consolidation in Nigeria
1.6 Significance of the Study
This research work will be significant in the following ways:
Firstly, it will help decision making bodies, institutions to determine the basis for political party formation in Nigeria in order to achieve National integration and political development.
Secondly, invaluably, it will contribute to academic knowledge as regards to function of political parties to political development.
Furthermore, it will create awareness and inspire a sense of responsibility on members of political party on the role expected of them to achieve good governance and political development.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study is based on the examination of multi-party system and democratic consolidation in Nigeria from 1999 to 2023. It as well shifts attention to party system the history of political party in Nigeria and political party affiliations.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
The limitation of the work is quite enormous, since there is no availability of financial support to aid enough material for this study and the short time given for the study also made it difficult to accumulate enough information as possible for the study.
1.9 Definition of Terms
The following terms were used in this study:
Politics: Politics is endemic in a man’s social existence and that is why a Greek philosopher, Aristotle asserted that man is a political animal. Politics was also defined by Prof Okwudiba Nnoli who opined that politics as the emergence of state power, consolidation of a state power and the use of a state power.
Political party: A political party is an organized group of individuals, seeking to seize the power of government in order to enjoy the benefits being derived from such control. Furthermore, a political party is a regular and permanent organization of certain number of people concerned with either conquering power or keeping it.
However, a political party is any group, however loosely organized seeking to elect governmental office holders under a given label. So in other words, a political party can be defined as different individuals or people who want to seize government power in order to put their ideologies parties is the seize governmental power.
A party system: A party system consists of all the parties in a particular nation and the laws and customs that govern their behavior. It simply means the formation, structure as well as the organization of political parties.
Election: An election is a process of voting and been voted for, for the qualified citizens of any country, thus, qualification may be educational or based on experience in some cases.
An election is the procedure that allows members of an organization or community to choose representatives who will hold positions of authority within it.
Political development: Political development can be seen as a process involved in a country’s political change. It is an incident that causes a situation to change or progress, a state in which the developing of something is not yet complete.
Multi-party system: Multi-party system simply means the presence of three or than three parties in particular state. A country that has up to three or more viable parties is said to be operating a multi-party system of government. However, a country may have up to three or more parties but will still not be qualified to be termed multi-party system country, it is because, there must be viable strong opposition parties which will lead to formation of coalition government.
Democracy: Democracy is a Greek word „demos’ which means “the people” and “kratein” means “to rule”. So it is a system of government of the people, by the people and for the people. Also it a system of government whereby citizens of a country have full rights and obligation to participate in governmental policies and decision making.
