Lack of Internal Democracy in Nigeria Political Parties

Lack of internal democracy in Nigeria political parties is a threat to the country’s nascent democracy. Recent party primaries throughout the country clearly show that Nigeria political parties are not operating within norms of democratic principles. Various political parties have failed to open up their parties to all party members who are eligible and want to run for office in their party primaries. Some candidates were imposed on the party without election and due process. Some of the candidates allegedly won via so called consensus option.

Some of the governors have unprecedented sway over their state party machinery to the point of mandating the delegates to vote for a particular candidate. The governors high- handed approach over their state party has made it difficult for democracy to take root at the state and local level. Some House of Assembly members who disagrees with their state governors faces impeachment, suspension or expulsion from the House. Some dissolves Local Government Areas where the chairman appears to be too independent even though they are suppose to be the third tier of government with separate budget. All Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors won re-election. Those who are term limited went as far as hand picking their successors.

The worst aspect of these over-bearing attitudes on the part of some governors is that they take it a step further by selecting their cronies to represent their state in the national assembly even though they already have seating members who should be allowed to contest the primary with other eligible candidates in a fair and free primary election. Seating House members and Senators who disagrees with them looses primary election in some cases. Why do governors think that whoever they put forward is going to win the general election? Most will have difficulty in a fair and free election.

About 50 PDP Senators lost in the so called state primaries due partly to the overbearing attitude of their governors. In Ogun state, Governor Daniel held sway. He made sure that current Speaker Bankole who wanted to run for governor never made it. He picked a successor since he is term limited. His excessive interference led to a split in Ogun State PDP which resulted in two separate primaries held by different PDP factions. The question is which faction will be recognized as authentic. In Oyo state, PDP have two factions. Some members are vehemently opposed to governor Akala’s re-election bid, but he will win the primary anyway since he is in control of the party apparatus. In Plateau and Anambra state, various factions are fighting each other. In Enugu, there is a full blown political war between state governor, Chime and former PDP chairman Nwodo who was just ousted. Both are vying for supremacy and both sponsored two separate primaries. Now that Nwodo is no longer the chairman, I guess governor chime will now take full control of the party machinery and do what other governors are doing.

On the other hand, ministers and other federal officers often try to carve up political space in their home state by challenging their state governor’s power which sometimes leads to conflict. In principle, governors are the head of the party at the states level, just like the president who is the titular head of his or her party at the national level.

There are protests around the country because some primary voters feel that their vote did not count. There is protest in Delta North Senatorial zone because some PDP members are alleging that former PDP chairman’s wife, Mariam Ali, was imposed on the district. Same thing happened in 2007 primary which lead to her been disqualified. Lack of internal democracy is not peculiar to PDP. Some Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) voters are accusing the former governor of Anambra, Dr. Chris Ngige of rigging senatorial primary in favor of his candidates. One of the finest senators from Lagos state, Mamora was replaced with Tinubu’s wife. Is she more qualified than the current senator? She should be allowed to run against senator Mamora and so be it if she wins. Same thing is happening in other races. So what is happening in Nigeria politics is that cronyism, god-fatherism and nepotism have taken over Nigerian polity. Parties should allow best candidates to carry their party’s flag in a general election if they really care for their political party.

What Will Restore Internal Democracy to Nigeria Political Parties?

1. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should take over all elections in Nigerian as soon as possible, at least for major political parties. All party registration should be done on party basis. For example, when a prospective voter goes to register, they need to identify their political party affiliation. INEC should register them as member of that party. They can register as independent or non-affiliated if they choose not to identity with any party. Voters should be able to change their political party affiliation anytime by simply going to nearby INEC office to change their voter card. On the primary day, only registered members of each party should vote in the primary. Whoever wants to run in their party primary will pay required fees to INEC not political parties and stand for election. That way, every candidate will have the opportunity to run. Defeated candidate will be more likely to accept the result unlike what we have now. With INEC at the helm of party primaries, godfather will be eliminated in Nigeria politics over time. This is how primary and general election is conducted here in United States.
2. Every Nigerian should be able to register and vote in the state they reside instead of going to their state of origin. All Nigerians should have the right to vote or stand for election under any party in any part of Nigeria regardless of their ethnicity, geographic region or religion.
3. Political parties should not have the right to tell INEC to disqualify any candidate who met the basic qualification. The voters in that party should make that decision via the ballot box. Only the court should be able to disqualify a candidate.
4. Selection of INEC chairman should be done by the National Judicial Commission (NJC) in order to truly maintain their independence as electoral umpire. They should be chosen like judges. Their budget should be independent as well.
5. INEC taking over registration of political parties will be able to weed out some of the mushroom parties which only exist on paper.
6. Registration of voters should be a continuous year long exercise, till say a month before each election. Any person who registers multiple times should be prosecuted when caught. Moreover, when a voter fraudulently registers more than once, it does not follow that the voter will be able to vote more than once on election day. INEC needs to make all voters dip their thumb in an indelible ink which will take at least three days to wash off. That way fraudulent, multiple voters will be quickly discovered and apprehended.

Having INEC take over all election is critical to Nigeria nascent democracy. The influence peddling by various politicians and political godfather prevalent in Nigeria politics will disappear over time. Elected officials will be more independent and responsive to the electorate when elected in a free and fair election. Best candidates will stand better chance of winning party primaries and general election than current top-down selection process prevalent in most Nigerian political parties.