Political Party Proliferation in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

 

With the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999, Nigeria's political landscape underwent significant changes. The political climate and the regulatory framework for party registration have led to substantial fluctuations in the number of political parties.

Initially, three main political parties emerged in the Fourth Republic: the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the All People’s Party (APP), and the Alliance for Democracy (AD). These parties laid the foundation for Nigeria’s democratic processes. By 2002, there were thirty registered parties, which increased to 33 by early 2006 and to 50 by 2007. However, only sixteen parties fielded candidates in the 2003 General Elections, and twenty-six in the 2007 elections.

The trend continued, with 63 political parties registered by the 2011 elections. Following mergers and new registrations, including the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the number was streamlined to 25 by April 2013.

Despite the growing number of parties, the political environment has faced numerous challenges. These include internal conflicts, lack of ideological grounding, and the dominance of “godfather” politics, undermining internal democracy and party cohesion. Many parties function primarily as "temporary machines for electoral contests" rather than genuine contenders.

The role of political parties is crucial for democratic consolidation in Nigeria. They are expected to socialize voters, recruit political leaders, and unify the diverse democratic landscape. However, many parties struggle to fulfill these roles due to internal democracy issues, frequent factionalism, and the personalization of party institutions.

For Nigeria's democracy to thrive, political parties must evolve beyond mere instruments of power acquisition. This requires building organizational capacity, effective leadership, and ensuring transparency and accountability in party decision-making processes.