Within Nigerian political parties, there are now numerous leadership and legal issues. Despite the electoral commission’s (INEC) acknowledgement and legal confirmation of Julius Abure’s leadership, attempts to name Esther Nenadi Usman as Caretaker Chair of the Labour Party (LP) sparked additional controversy. Amid the chaos, Peter Obi, a well-known LP figure, denied reports that he was leaving the party. Similar to this, the PDP is dealing with an increasing number of problems, such as delayed sessions of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and disagreements over constitutional observance. Despite warnings that disregarding established rules will make resolution methods useless, a factional conflict continues.
Prolonged leadership disputes have also affected other parties, such as the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Key players in APGA pledged to maintain Peace after the Supreme Court recently settled disagreements. However, detractors like Salihu Lukman charge that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has the capacity to rule effectively and just serves as a legal instrument for elections. These problems are made worse by economic difficulties, which force smaller parties to form coalitions with larger ones in order to survive. This was seen in Edo and Ondo States’ off-cycle elections, where major candidates were sponsored by smaller parties. These intra-party conflicts are also expected to worsen as the 2027 presidential election draws near.
Leadership conflicts have afflicted parties such as PDP and APC.
The nation’s turbulent political past and structural issues are at the heart of Nigeria’s political disputes within its parties. Political parties, rather than being institutions with a strong ideological foundation, have frequently served as vehicles for personal goals since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999. Leadership conflicts have afflicted parties such as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), frequently resulting from the lack of internal democracy. Since its power started to decline following the 2015 national elections, which marked the end of its 16-year hegemony, the PDP, for example, has experienced numerous leadership contests.
As a result of its establishment in 2013 as a coalition of lesser parties, the APC has also had difficulty bringing its disparate sections together. The disregard for party constitutions and legal structures is one of the main causes of these crises. Claims of favouritism and manipulation frequently taint leadership selection procedures. “Any attempt to sideline the constitution of the party in resolving disputes will render all efforts futile,” Kola Ologbondiyan, the former PDP National Publicity Secretary, cautioned.
Labour Party leader Peter Obi spoke in favour of issue-based politics.
Furthermore, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and party leaders are at odds as a result of the Electoral Act of 2022, which was designed to increase electoral transparency by exposing inconsistencies within party operations. These difficulties are made worse by economic hardship, which forces minor parties to join forces or support candidates from larger parties in order to survive. Minor parties resigned for APC and PDP candidates in the 2023 Edo and Ondo State gubernatorial elections, demonstrating the disproportionate power of larger parties in the political system.
To deal with these challenges, political leaders have put out a number of reform proposals. These include tightening the sanctions for party constitution infractions and enhancing INEC’s oversight of party conventions and elections. Labour Party leader Peter Obi has spoken in favour of issue-based politics, stressing that “we must shift from Politics of entitlement to politics of governance and accountability.” In the meantime, Edozie Njoku of the APGA advocated for judicial independence, saying, “We must respect its judgements for the sake of peace, and the Judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man.”
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In light of these events, the crises highlight Nigeria’s democracy’s vulnerability, as its political institutions have not yet developed into sound, responsible systems. These disagreements turn the focus from government to intra-party squabbles and erode public trust in the democratic process. In order to fortify Nigeria’s democratic underpinnings, political parties must adopt institutional reforms, cultivate internal democracy, and put the good of the group ahead of personal goals. Should these actions not be taken, the path to the general elections in 2027 could be paved with widening rifts, endangering the democratic gains made since 1999.