CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

A political party is an organization that organizes candidates to run in elections in a certain country. Members of a political party are likely to share similar political views, and parties may advocate certain ideological or policy goals (Adejumobi, &Kehinde, 2014).

With the development and growth of modern party organizations around the world over the last few centuries, political parties have become a major feature of practically every country's politics especially in Nigeria. A country with no political parties is highly unusual. There is only one political party in certain countries, whereas others have multiple or more than one(Adejumobi, &Kehinde, 2014).

Political Parties play an essential role in both autocratic and democratic governments, while democracies often have more political parties than autocracies. In many autocracies, the particular country is governed by a single party, and some political scientists believe that competition between two or more parties is an important aspect of democratic governance or democracy.

Parties can emerge from existing societal differences, such as those between the poorer and upper classes, and they can help to streamline the political decision-making process by pushing its members to work together for the purpose of achieving good democracy. A political party typically consists of a party leader, who is in charge of the party's activities; party executives, who may choose the leader and perform administrative and party tasks; and political party members, who can volunteer to help the party, donate money to it, and vote for its candidates of their choice. Political parties can be structured in a variety of ways and connect with voters in a variety of ways. Many political parties, on the other hand, may not have same ideology and are instead focused on patronage, clientelism, or the rise of a political entrepreneur.

Democracy is a type of administration in which the massses have the power and right to debate and decide legislation (direct democracy) or to elect governing officials (representative democracy). Who is considered a member of "the people," and how authority is shared or delegated by the masses, has evolved through time and at varying rates in different countries including Nigeria, but over time, more and more citizens of democratic countries have been included. Freedom of assembly, association, and speech, inclusivity and equality, citizenship, consent of the governed, voting rights, freedom from unjustified governmental denial of the right to life and liberty, and minority rights are all important aspects of democracy.

The concept of democracy has developed significantly over time. Direct democracy was the first kind of democracy. A representative democracy, such as a parliamentary or presidential democracy, is the most frequent type of democracy in Nigeria, in which the masses elect government officials to govern on their behalf.

The majority rule is the most common way for democracies to make decisions on an everydaybasis, however other decision-making systems such as supermajority and consensus have also played a significant role. They primarily take primacy on a constitutional level because they provide the critical aim of inclusion and greater legitimacy on sensitive matters, counterbalancing majoritarianism. The majority's powers are exercised within the framework of a representative democracy under liberal democracy, but the constitution limits the majority and protects the minority, usually by ensuring that all masses have access to certain rights, such as freedom of expression and association.

Political parties are organizations that mobilize voters on behalf of a common set of interest, concerns, and goals. In many countries like Nigeria inclusive, parties are expected to play a crucial role in the democratic process. They are to formulate political and policy agenda, selected candidates, conduct election campaigns, and monitor the work of their elected representatives which help strengthen democracy especially in Nigeria.

From 1999 to the present, political parties have provided as a platform for politicians to promote bad behavior such as corruption, godfathers, and other issues that have harmed Nigeria's democracy. Political parties should act as a link between citizens and government, as well as a way for the masses to have a say in their government, yet the opposite has been the case since the fourth republic.

Parties in Nigeria should consolidate democracy by promoting a well-defined economic agenda, reducing societal differences, providing leadership training to members, and providing philosophical or ideological guidance to both their members and the general public.

Political parties in Nigeria should contribute to raising national awareness and mobilizing public opinion ahead of national referendum. The purpose of this article is to examine the role which political parties in Nigeria perform their tasks in supporting democracy from 1999-2021

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Any study of Nigeria's political parties in terms of democracy must start with the challenges and dilemmas that arose during the country's democratic transition from independence to the Fourth Republic. Democracy has resulted in a flurry of demands and agitations, leading some to fear that the system would be overwhelmed. One of the key challenges of the contemporary democratic government from 1999 till date is the lack of good political leaders to lead the country forward. Corruption, a lack of government accountability, and so on is some of the other difficulties which stands as a problem to the existence of our democracy. Nigeria's embryonic democracy's political institutions are the principal cause of concern. Political parties and leaders are critical to a democracy's long-term existence and stability because they create its structural foundations. Effective and well-functioning institutions structure behavior in stable and predictable patterns, reducing uncertainty over role functions; perform well even in the face of economic adversity; produce more workable and sound public policies; and, as a result of the foregoing, reduce the likelihood of military incumbency. Therefore the study centers on the role of political parties in Nigeria Democracy (1999-2021)

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to examine Roles of Political Parties in Nigeria’s Democracy (1999-2021)

1) To examine the historical development of political parties in Nigerian Democracy.

2) To examine the significant role of political parties on Nigeria democracy in the Fourth republic.

3) To examine the qualities and characteristics of good democracy

4) To examine the challenges faced by political parties in playing their their roles in Nigerian democacy

5) To recommend ways in which political parties can promote Nigerian democracy.

1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) What is the historical development of political parties in Nigerian Democracy?

2) What is the significant role of political parties on Nigeria democracy in the 4th republic?

3) What are the qualities and characteristics of democracy?

4) What are the challenges faced by political parties in playing their roles in Nigerian democracy?

5) What are the ways in which political parties can promote Nigerian democracy?

1.5. RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

HO: political parties do not play a significant role on the democracy of Nigeria

H1:political parties play a significant role on the democracy of Nigeria

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The conclusions of this study will aid political parties since they will disclose the condition on the ground about the function of political parties in Nigeria democracy from 1999 to 2021. This data will aid in the design of policies as well as the improvement of existing policies in order to strengthen governance.

This research is significant because of the potential benefits to political parties, government officials, students, and all Nigerian stakeholders.

1.7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to Roles of Political Parties in Nigeria’s Democracy (1999-2021)

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

ROLES:A role is a collection of interconnected behaviors, rights, obligations, beliefs, and conventions that people in a social setting conceptualize. It is a type of conduct that can be expected, voluntary, or ever-changing, and it can be associated with a specific social rank or social position.

Democracy:Democracy is a form of government in which the people have the authority to deliberate and decide legislation, or to choose governing officials to do so

Political parties:Political parties are collective entities that organize competitions for political offices. The members of a political party contest elections under a shared label. In a narrow definition, a political party can be thought of as just the group of candidates who run for office under a party label