Dearth of True Party Members in Nigeria’s Political System -By Tochukwu Jimo Obi

Political parties are important vehicles for the attainment of political power in any democracy. Beyond merely providing platforms for candidates to contest elections, political parties are expected to be built around clearly defined ideologies, principles, ethics, core values and manifestos that communicate their vision for society. Membership should therefore be based on a genuine commitment to these ideals, with every member willing to subordinate personal interests to the broader interests and objectives of the party.

Unfortunately, over the years, Nigerian politicians have not only whittled down the powers and influence of political parties, but have also hijacked and, in some cases, effectively pocketed the parties they belong to. Instead of strong institutions where decisions are reached through established structures and internal democratic processes, some parties have increasingly become dominated by powerful individuals whose personal interests appear to take precedence over the collective interests of members.

Ordinarily, every party member, from a sitting President and governor to an elected legislator and the ordinary grassroots member, ought to conduct political activities in accordance with the constitution, guidelines, manifesto and decisions of the party. What is witnessed in many instances, however, is a situation where a highly placed individual or a small group within a party unilaterally determines what happens, who receives political appointments, who gets party tickets and, in some cases, who is allowed to exercise influence within the party.

Such practices inevitably create frustration and resentment among party members. When members feel neglected, marginalised or unfairly treated, some choose to defect to other political parties, while others remain within their parties but deliberately work against them during elections. The consequence is that loyalty to political parties becomes increasingly conditional, while personal relationships, political calculations and the pursuit of individual interests take centre stage.

Political parties in Nigeria are therefore increasingly being perceived as Special Purpose Vehicles, or SPVs, for accessing political power, rather than institutions whose members genuinely subscribe to their ideologies and programmes. This situation is particularly troubling because a healthy democracy requires political parties with identifiable principles and policies through which citizens can understand what they represent and hold them accountable when they assume power.

Even more disturbing is the practice whereby some politicians openly work against their own party’s candidates and support or adopt candidates of other parties in the name of coalition building, even when their parties have not authorised such arrangements. While political alliances and coalitions are legitimate features of democratic politics, they should be governed by established party procedures and not become excuses for individual members to undermine candidates formally nominated by their own parties.

These actions do not augur well for the development and consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy. Political parties must not be operated as the personal property of one individual or a small clique. Party leadership must carry members along in decision making, respect internal democratic structures and ensure that members have legitimate avenues through which grievances can be addressed. A party that cannot practise internal democracy will struggle to convince citizens that it can effectively promote democratic governance.

At the same time, political parties must be fair to every member and also be prepared to enforce discipline. Members who openly engage in anti party activities should be sanctioned in accordance with the party constitution and established rules. Such sanctions should be transparent, consistently applied and free from selective treatment. Party discipline should not be used as a weapon against perceived enemies while influential members are allowed to violate party rules with impunity.

There is also a responsibility on governments at the federal and state levels to create an environment in which opposition parties can operate freely. State institutions and public resources should not be deployed to weaken, destabilise or manipulate opposition parties. Nigeria’s democracy benefits when political parties are strong enough to compete, criticise government policies and offer credible alternatives. The country cannot afford to drift towards a political system in which meaningful opposition is weakened or a single party dominates political space without effective competition.

Tochukwu Obi hails from Obosi, Anambra state.