Godfatherism, Party Opposition, Party Coalition, and Party Disunity in Nigeria: A Study of Kwara State from 1999 to 2015
Keywords:
political godfather, Kwara state, Political Elite, Political Party, ElectionAbstract
The article investigates the action and character that surrounded electing leaders in Kwara State,
Nigeria. From the research findings of related studies reviewed in the present paper, it is argued that leadership selection in Nigeria is determined by political godfathers. In Kwara State, which is the case study in this article, political participation and contestation were often determined and controlled by Senator Abubakar Olusola Saraki. After the death of Olusola Saraki, his son, Senator Bukola Saraki became the political leader. The godfather-son relationship is instrumental in hand-picking electoral candidates that are loyal to the patron-client system. This is because the electoral candidates that contested for the position through the godfather/leader always won elections through their political networks. However, recently, the struggle for power among the elites has made the contestation for leadership positions intense. Over the years, the incumbent political party has either decamped to a new party or formed a grand coalition with the opposition political parties because of party internal disputes. The article submits that the unethical patron-client practice has largely frustrated the democratic process between 1999 and 2015. The effort of the opposition political parties to take over power from the incumbent party (then PDP) has been met with frustration, especially with the slow and poor judgment from the Electoral Tribunal Courts. In view of this, there is a strong political opposition after the inauguration of democracy in Kwara State but the electoral power has not been changed within the period. Therefore, the findings from the respondents were analysed by the data gathered from the survey and interview schedule.
References
Adbullahi, A. and Tunde, S. R. (2013). Democracy and politics of godfatherism in Nigeria: The effects and way forward. International Journals of Politics and Governance. Vol. 4. No. 4.2. pp. 1-23
Aduku, A. A. and Umoru, Y. A. (2014). Political parties and democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Global Journal of Political Science and Administration. Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 78-108.
Aduradola, R. R. and Ojukwu, C. C. (2013). Language of political campaigns and politics in Nigeria. Canadian Social Sciences. Vol. 9. No 3, pp. 104-116.
Animashaun, K. (2010). Regime character, electoral crisis and prospeect of eletoral reform in Nigeria. Journal of Nigeria. Vol. 1, No 1. pp. 1-20
Bachrach, T. (1967). The theory of democratic elitism: A critique. Boston: Boston Little Brown & Co.
Bratton, M and Van de Walle (1998). Democratic experiment in Africa regime transitions in comparative perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Bratton, M. and Van de Walle, N. (1997). Democratic experiment in Africa regime transitions in comparative perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Chidi, N. J. (2015). Politics of merger of political parties in Nigeria: The past and present efforts to evolve two major parties. Journal of Policy and Development Studies. Vol. 9. No.2. pp. 1-26
Cohen, C. (2015). Violence between and within political parties in Nigeria: Statistics, structures and patterns 2006-2014. IFRA Nigeria.
Desahouwer, K and Luther, R. K. (1999). Party elites in divided societies. Routledge.
Egbewole, W. O. and Etudaiye, M. A. (2010). The role of opposition in Nigerian politics. Journal of Political Science and International Relations. Vol. 4(6), pp. 215-220.
Gauba, O. P. (2003). An introduction to political theory. Macmillan India
Gill, G. (2000) The dynamics of democratisation elite, civil society and the transition process. Macmillan Press.
Herald (2014). Kwara, no go area for PDP-Saraki. Sunday February 23
Herald (2014). Saraki defection: Best for Kwarans – Moronfoye. Wednesday, February 26.
Herald (2014). Saraki is the leader of APC in Kwara State - Oyeleke, Sunday February 9.
Huntington, S. P. (1991). The third wave of democratisation in the late Twentieth Century. Norman and London.
Ibrahim, I. (2012). Allegation of mismanagement of Kwara State House of Assembly fund against Rt. Hon. Speaker. Rasaki Atunwa representing Owode/Onire Constituency of ASA local Government Council.
Ibrahim, J and Hassan, I. (2014). Nigerian political parties: From failed opposition Electoral Alliance to Merger: The march towards the 2015 general elections. Centre for Democracy and Development.
Ibrahim, I. (2012). Kwara State House of Assembly: Allegation of mismanagement of Kwara House of Assembly Fund. Hon. Speaker Rasak Atunwa Representative Owode/Onire Constituency.
Innocent, A. P. (2012). Party-Politics and intra-party democracy in Nigeria: A historical and contemporary perspective. Journal of Social Science and Policy Review. Vol. 4, pp. 1-24
Innocent, O. E. and Nkechi, A. (2011). Intra and inter-party crises in Nigeria’s fourth republic: Implication for the sustainability and consolidation of democracy in the post third term Nigeria, Journal of Social Science and Public Policy. Vol. 3, pp. 1-28
Innocent, P. A. (2012). Political violence and negation of democratic stability in Nigeria: Implication for the fourth republic. Journal of Social Science and Public Policy. Vol. 4, pp. 1-24
Ismail.O. A. 92011). Credible political opposition in Nigeria: On rescue mission, continental Social Science, Wilolud Journals, Vol.3.No.4.
Jachen, H. (1998). The democratisation of disempowerment: The problem of democracy in the third word. Pluto Press.
Liebowitz, J. and Ibrahim, J. (2013). A capacity assessment of Nigerian political parties: Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Programme, UNDP, Nigeria.
Momodu, J. A. and Ika, M. G. (2013). The implication of intra-party conflicts on Nigeria’s democratisation. Global Journals Inc, Vol. 13, Issue 16, pp. 1-27
Monica, A. (2012). The role of political party in democratic governance of Nigeria: A case study of PDP. Faculty of Management and Social Science, Department of Political Science, Caritas University, Enugu.
Ojekwe, I.G. (2015). Political advert campaign and voting behaviour: A study of Akinwumi Ambode’s election and campaign in Lagos, Journal National Open University Lagos.
Olowojulo, O. (2015). The rise of opposition political party in Nigeria: A case study of All Progressive Congress. International Journal of Politics and Governance. Vol vi, No 6.4, pp. 1-30
Olujide, J. O., Adeyemi, S. L. and Gbadeyan, R. A. (2011). Nigeria electorates’ perception of political advertising and electoral campaign. Kamla-Raj, Social Science 27.(3), pp. 179-185.
Orvis, S. (2001). Civil society in Africa or African civil society. In, Ndegwe, S. N., A decade of democracy in Africa. Brill Journal of Asia and African Studies. Vol. XXXVI, 1.
Peter, B. (1967). The theory of democratic elitism: A critique. Little Brown and Co. PLAC (2010). The Electoral Act of 2010 Simplified Respondents (2016) The interviewed schedules and focus group discussions (FGD).
Tachau, F. (1975). Political elite and political development in the Middles East. Halsted Press.
The Guardian (2017). Saraki declared assets, CCB Affairm.
The Herald (2013). PDP falls apart, Sunday, September 1.
The Herald (2014). PDP buried in Kwara - Gov Ahmed, Wednesday, February 5.
Tinubu, A. B. A. (2011). Democracy in Nigeria and the rebirth of opposition, National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN). Being a Key note Address presented at Chatham House, London.
The Punch (2015). 2015 Campaigns and glorification of mediocrity, Vol. 30. No 20,875.
The Punch (2015). Poll: parties boost campaigns with rented Crowds, Vol. 19. No. 19,829.
Toyin, O. S. (2014). Party conflicts and democratic consolidation in Nigeria (1999-2007). International Journal for Humanities and Social Sciences. Vol.4. No. 11, pp. 1-20
Udeze, S. and Akpan, U. (2013). The influence of political advertising on Nigerian electorate. Kamla-Raj, J Communication, 4 (1), pp. 49-55.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Moshood, Saka
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
