Democracy: is a government by the people, especially rule of the majority in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
In other words, Democracy is a government of the people, for the people an by the people. But as you and I would both agree that the above definition does not conform with the current practise we have in Nigeria.
Nigeria was once again ushered into democratic proceedings in 1999 by General Abdulsalami Abubakar following the death of military dictator and de facto ruler of Nigeria, General Sani Abacha in 1998.
Once again we styled the constitution after the ill-fated Second Republic — which saw the Westminster system (British) of government jettisoned for an American Presidential system.
With the lift of the ban on political activities, three political parties were formed with two fielding candidates for the presidential election, the outcome of the election is history now.
Subsequent elections that followed showed a steady increase in number of political parties as well as candidates for the post of President. Infact between 1999 and 2015, there was a total number of 81 presidential candidates with the just concluded 2019 election having 73 candidates.
Since the inception of the fourth republic, there has been an geometric rise in participation in electioneering process with only 2011( due to the Goodluck Jonathan factor) and 2015( partly to the union of opposition parties and internal wrangling within the PDP, to oust the then ruling PDP) seeing a reduction in number of presidential candidates.
As it stands now, we have close to if not over 90 political associations or party if you wish to call them so.
One would naturally think that the increase in presidential candidates is as a result of political development or advancement of our politicians, nothing could be farther from the truth, rather we seem to have retrogressed with every successive electoral cycle.
Our politicians been the smart bunch in which they are have always looked for and found loopholes in our electoral act which begs the question what our national assembly and it’s various amendment processes have achieved.
For many Nigerians, our national assembly does its work as it best suites them, don’t forget, they themselves are politicians.
The sharp rise in the number of political parties between the last two election cycle is alarming and if not checkmated could have lasting consequences on the entire democratic process.
Not only does it pose logistical hazard on INEC and huge budgetary allocations on the part of the federal government, it also serves as a source of confusion for the electorates.
Also, INEC as electoral umpire does not have the capacity to monitor huge number of parties especially during political primaries.
The average Nigerian only knows by name or by logo the two major political parties and maybe just maybe some other regional(geopolitical) parties say the likes of APGA, ADC, CPC etc.
– By Abimboye Femi (Marshal)
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