DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION IN THE NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES

Abstract

Democracy has eluded Nigeria for almost two decades until 1999 when the fourth republic came into being.  The first three republics were truncated by the military and the fourth republic has been predicted to go the same way if concerted effort is not made to consolidate the current democratic attempt. Democratic consolidation has been canvassed as core to the survival of the fourth republic and political parties occupy a vintage position in this wise. However, the action and inaction of political parties since 1999 have called to question the readiness of the political parties in playing this vital role. The concern of this paper is the evaluation of the extent to which political parties perform the role of consolidating democracy in the current republic. The study relied basically on secondary sources of data for the validation of opinion upon which the study was based. The paper found out that political parties lack internal cohesion and discipline, lack clear cut ideology, infested by godfather/godson syndrome and rule by proxy, exhibit violence and unruly behaviours which are considered harmful to democratic consolidation. The study recommends inculcation of internal democracy and party discipline, eradication of godfatherism, as well as evolving and sustaining party ideology as veritable ways for ensuring democratic consolidation which is a vital ingredient for the survival of the Nigeria’s fourth republic.