MINOR COMMENT ON A MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUE- PERISCOPING “ONE-PARTY SYSTEM” AS A BYPRODUCT OF WEAK, TEPID AND TYRANNICAL OPPOSITION IN NIGERIA!
Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri
The current gales of defections of elected members of opposition parties into the ruling APC have reignited the perennial concern about Nigeria sliding into a “one party state”. This fear of Nigeria regressing into a one-party state has always been there since the return of democratic rule in 1999. Nigerian politics is not known to be ideology driven by reason of the fact that the electoral laws are lax, weakened or rendered comatose via convoluted judicial imprimatur. Except, diverse logos, flags and names, it is arguable whether there are significant differences between the manifesto, mission and vision of the registered political parties in Nigeria. More than anything else, Nigerian politics is migratory and of barren principles. Politicians, elected, appointed and members alike, gallivant freely from one political party to the other without qualms. It must be conceded that the transfer or “jumpology” is characterised more from party members “running away” from the opposition to seek “refuge” in the ruling party. This may be constitutional but portends grave danger for sustainable democracy.
In a recent public statement made during the memorial lecture held in Abuja in honour of late Pa Edwin Clark, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan spoke clearly on the dangers of political manipulation aimed at sidelining opposition parties. He warned against the covert establishment of a one-party system in Nigeria, cautioning that such a move could destabilize the nation’s fragile democracy”. Among other things, GEJ observed that “while countries like Tanzania practise a one-party system, it was properly planned for, stressing that Nigeria’s complex ethnic, religious, and political landscape necessitates a more inclusive political framework”. In his words, “Yes, a one-party state may not be evil after all, because Julius Nyerere of Tanzania used a one-party state to stabilize his country in the early days of independence. He felt that the country, just like Nigeria, had too many tribes and tongues, and two principal religions—Christianity and Islam. If we allow multiple parties, some may follow religious lines, others tribal, and unity will be difficult. But it was properly planned; it was not by accident. “If we must, as a nation, adopt a one-party system, then it must be designed, planned by experts—and we must know what we are getting into. But if we arrive at it through the back door by political manipulations, then we are heading for a crisis.”
For all intents and purposes this is a loaded comment although the erstwhile President acknowledged that Nigeria is at present a multi-party democracy. Succinctly stated, section 221 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended provides that “No association, other than a political party, shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election” while section 222 thereof enacts clearly that “No association by whatever name called shall function as a party, unless –
(a) the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission;
(b) the membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping;
(c) a copy of its constitution is registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in such form as may be prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission;
(d) any alteration in its registered constitution is also registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission within thirty days of the making of such alteration
(e) the name of the association, its symbol or logo does not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that the activities of the association are confined to a part only of the geographical area of Nigeria; and
(f) the headquarters of the association is situated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”
The above constitutional provisions outlawing independent candidacy and associations other than INEC registered political parties are also replicated in the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022. Thus, by express constitutional provisions, Nigeria is a muti-party democracy although the electoral laws recognise that there can be merger or coalition of registered political parties. For reasons of ethnic, tribal, religious, cultural, lingual differences and more, it is beyond argument that the framers of the Nigerian constitutional did not decree Nigeria to be a one-party state which is “where a single political party holds all governmental power, often suppressing or severely limiting the existence or participation of other parties. This system is characterized by the dominant party’s control over all aspects of government, including legislation, elections, and the media”. In a democracy, with entrenched multi-party system of politics, the registered political party is the vehicle for organised pursuit of political power and its perquisites. As earlier noted, in Nigeria, under the extant and relevant provisions of the extant electoral laws, there is no room for independent candidacy. A candidate to an election conducted by INEC or a State Independent Electoral Commission must be sponsored by a registered political party. By the last count, there are many parties registered by INEC.
Much as the concerns of former President GEJ about what he termed “the dangers of political manipulation aimed at sidelining opposition parties” are legit and contrite, it is important to also draw attention to the tyrannical practices of opposition or small parties and cocktail of internal party injustices they mete out to their members which also help to shrink the democratic space. The undemocratic profiles of these opposition or small parties leave much to be desired. In a multi-party democracy, the opposition parties should vigorously serve as constant checks and balances on the excesses of the party in power but the contrary is the case. Unfortunately and surprisingly too, contemporary experience shows that the opposition parties are even worse off in the blind competition for unconstitutional and illegal practices which range from disobedience of the express provisions of the party constitution, non- conduct of free and fair primaries to outright sale of mandate and or unlawful substitution of validly elected candidates at primaries.
Nigerians have come to openly associate all political parties, whether in power or opposition, with such bizarre and undemocratic things like suspension or substitution of elected party officers and officials, faking and or fraudulent manipulation of delegates lists, arbitrary change of designated venue for holding party primaries, holding parallel congresses and primaries, securing voodoo delegate votes and over voting at primaries, bribing and administering oath and other fetish rituals on delegates, rigging and changing of results between the primaries venue and the party’s national headquarters.
Much as the ruling party may be accused of scheming for what President GEJ termed “covert establishment of a one-party system”, Nigerians also need to know that the smaller parties are unclean, corrupt and corruptible, unwholesome, jaundiced, polluted and cannot be trusted to chart a new course for our democracy to take root in a sustainable manner. Lack of conscientious, determined, resilient, democratic opposition parties is also a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. No doubt former President GEJ’s warning is timely but opposition parties must redraw the political roadmap. They should not be willing tools to be used the national constitution or the democratic choices of Nigerians. Party administrators should endeavour to be law abiding, willing and prepared at all times to be recovered from the vestiges of tyranny, treachery and impunity. To break this fear of “creeping authoritarianism” which has been touted in every democratic epoch in Nigeria since 1999, the opposition parties must jointly and severally be responsible, responsive, accountable and democratic and not as guilty (if not more than) the ruling political party. The compelling need for the introduction of independent candidacy in general elections cannot be over-emphasised as a more durable panacea for Nigeria sliding into a one-party state. Nigeria we hail thee.
A new normal is possible!