ABSTRACT
The study examined internal
party democracy and political stability in Nigeria, a case study of PDP Imo
state between 2007 and 2016. Documentary method of data collection was adopted.
Qualitative description method based on content analysis was used as a method
of data analysis. This work is predicted on the theoretical framework of elite
power theory propounded by Vilfredo Pareto. The study found out that the
activities of godfatherism in Imo state PDP has led to violence and electoral
irregularities. It also found out that the lack of clear cut politics and
candidate selection resulted to the decamping of PDP members to APC in Imo
state. Finally the study recommended that political parties should embrace and
encourage the practice of internal democracy as by so doing would reduce the
activities of the party elites (godfathers) within the party and also ensure
democratic consolidation.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
There
is no universal definition of the concept of intraparty democracy (internal
party democracy), although many scholars agreed on some basic principles of
electivity, accountability, transparency, inclusivity, participation, and
representation.(
Jeroen 2011) “Internal party
democracy means that the party’s should be formed “bottom-up” and that the
internal distribution of power should be marked by dispersion at different
levels, bodies and individuals rather than by the concentration in one
organ”.Cular(2004)
Unlike most definitions of democracy at the level of political system, the
definition of internal party democracy does not mean a state that can be
distinguished from other forms of internal party order. It is rather about the
scale by which we can measure the extent to which a party is democratically
organized and eventually compare among other parties.
According
to Salih (2006) internal
party democracy “Implies support for the general interest of the party
membership, the public and the state. It means that party structure and
organisation are participatory and inclusive, essentially vehicles for the
exercise of nascent democratic leadership and values”. There are two identified
essential instrumental elements of intra-party democracy. The first group involves
the organisation of free, fair and regular elections of internal positions as
well as candidates for the representative bodies. While the second group
involves equal and open participation of entire members and members’ group in
such a way that interest are more or less equally represented. It is imperative
to analyze actual practice by political parties in order to determine whether
they adhere to the practice of internal democracy. Three levels of observations
are determinable for the purposes of this analysis. These are legal
requirements, party regulations, and actual practice. In Nigeria, these
analyses will be carried out with reference to the Electoral Act 2010, (as
amended), the Constitutions of the political parties and the actual conducts of
the political parties during their various parties primaries conducted prior to
the April 2011 general elections.
Political
parties are one of the institutions that are carriers of democratic principles
in any organised society. Thus, there are a number of ‘institutional
guarantees’ that parties have to fulfil if they were to effectively meet what
is expected of them in a democracy. One of such institutional requirements is
internal (intra-party) democracy. As Magolowondo (n.d) points out, this very
important institutional dimension is lacking in many political parties,
particularly in emerging democracies. But the question is, what is Internal
Democracy? Drawing on Scarrow (2004)
study on ‘Political Parties and Democracy in theoretical and practical perspectives;
Implementing intra-party democracy’, internal democracy is a very broad term
describing a wide range of methods for including party members in intra-party
deliberation and decisionmaking. It is democracy within the party and the
extent to which a party subscribes to and abides by the basic and universal
democratic tenets.
As
Tyoden (1994) argues, hardly is a political system adjudged democratic without
the central placement of political parties in its political process. This is
because political parties are the major vehicles for the expression of an
essential feature of the democratic process. In this case, however, inter and
intra party relationships are vital because they determine the health and
resilience of the party system and by extension the fate of democracy and the
nature of the political system itself. In similar vein, Mersel (2006) asserts
that various democracies in recent times have faced the problem of
nondemocratic political parties, a situation where most parties only focus on external
activities, neglecting internal planning and organisation. He argues that in
determining whether a political party is nondemocratic, attention should be
given to party’s goals and practices. This is so because some parties often
ignore essential elements such as their internal structures.
Internal
party democracy aims
at developing more
democratic, transparent and
effective political parties. It
identifies specific challenges
in the internal
management and functioning
of parties and
party systems. These include; candidate
selection, leadership selection,
policy making, membership
relations, gender discrimination and
party funding. From this
outcome-oriented perspective, parties’
organizational structures should
be judged above
all in terms
of how well they
help the parties
choose policies and personnel
that reflect the preferences
of their broader
electorates. Another important
effect of intra-party
democracy in line
with the assertion
of Gosnell (1968) is
that it provides
necessary vertical linkages
between different deliberating
spheres and horizontal
linkage between competing issues.
The elements which
are instrumental to
intra-party democracy cannot
be over-emphasized in having
effective and working
internal democracy. First
and foremost, it
involves in organizing
free, fair and
periodic elections of internal
positions, as well
as candidates for
representative bodies. The
second entails equal
and open participation of all
members and member
groups in such
a way that
interests are equally
represented.
The
interplay between parties and democracies should reflect the parties’ adherence
not only to democratic goals and actions but also to internal democratic
structures (Mersel, 2006). Internal democracy aims at developing more
democratic, transparent and effective political parties. It identifies specific
challenges in the internal management and functioning of parties and party
systems. These include: candidate selection, leadership selection, policy
making, membership relations, gender, minorities, youth and party funding. It
is in light of the above that the present attempts to investigate the internal
party democracy and political stability in Nigeria, a case studyPDP Imo state
between 2007 and 2016.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Maintenance
of internal democracy, through the process of selecting candidates among
political parties in Nigeria, particularly in the People‟s Democratic Party has
remained a vexed issue (Akubo & Umoru, 2014). Consequently, After decades
long colonial rule and military rule it
was expected that the new democratic dispensation would create an avenue for
the maximization an true embracing of
democracy and it’s principles in the country.
The
trend remains an overt reliance on structures of political parties to aid in
the achievement of such democracy; since political parties are dividends and
makers of democracies, it is expected of them to not only aid in achieving the
needed democracy in the country, but also ensure that they maintain democratic
principles within themselves. In essence, political parties were seen as the
purveyors of the democracy, because they themselves exude democratic principles
among members. Hence, the achievement of these roles is largely hinged on the
capability of the party to foster internal unity, relations, democracy and
cohesion. However, although these political parties theoretically befit constitutional
qualities and prospects ascribed to them, enhancing internal democracy remained
a herculean task in practice; they have been bereft of proper adherence to
their respective constitutional party structures, particularly in the process
of selecting candidates and conducting its primaries.
Such
discrepancy has sparked odious high level
of instability that has enveloped the system over the decades. Necessitating
the need to identify and explain some of the constraints of Nigerian parties
towards promoting political stability and upholding the democratic principles
internally and externally.
1.3 Research
Questions
The following
research questions were formulated:
1.
How has the lack of internal party
democracy contributed to the intra party conflict in Imo state PDP between 2007
and 2016?
2.
How has the absence of internal party democracy accounted for the defeat
of the PDP at the polls during gubernatorial elections in Imo State between
2007 and 2016?
1.4 Objectives
of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to
examine the internal party democracy and political stability in Nigeria with
focus on PDP Imo state chapter 2007 and 2016.
The specific objectives of the study are
as follows:
1.
To examine if the lack of internal party democracy contributed to the
intra party conflict in PDP Imo state.
2.
To determine whether the absence of internal party democracy has
accounted for failure of PDP at the polls during gubernatorial elections in Imo
state between 2007 and 2016
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study has
both theoretical and practical significance. Theoretically of contributes to
knowledge of existing literature on who need previous knowledge of the Internal
party relationship effects and advantages on political stability and the nation’s
development.
Practically it
will assist policy makers to serve as an indispensable tool for policy makers,
politicians, stakeholders and future political aspirants intending to rule in
various sectors of the government to guide and foster further co-existence
among political parties, as it remains a building block, an eye opener and a
light unto the path of citizens, students and political parties in upholding
the democratic principles for the attainment of political stability.
1.6
Hypothesis
This study will be guided by the
following hypothesis
(1) The
lack of internal party democracy has led to intra party conflicts in Imo state
between 2007 and2016.
(2) The
absence of internal party democracy has accounted for the defeat of PDP at the
polls during gubernatorial elections in Imo state between 2007 and 2016.
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