MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

ASSET OR LIABILTY?

Nwanyanwu Christopher

            A Political party may be defined as organized group of people who share similar political opinions, principles, interests and beliefs with the aim of gaining political power and governing the country. The presence of a political party or more is a sign of a democratic arrangement in which they serve as mediums of gaining power in the country. But the number of political parties in a country is determined by the type of party systems obtainable in the country. Thus a party system may be defined as a type of governmental political arrangement in which political parties are permitted to operate for the purposes of forming a government on political party basis. It is the constitution of the country that specifies the number of political parties that are to be operated in the country.

We have different party systems practiced in some places. We have One-party system which is a political system in which only one political party is constitutionally allowed to operate in the country. We also have Two-party system where only two political parties are legally allowed to operate in the country. We also have the Multy-party system which is a political system in which more than two political parties are allowed to compete for gaining of political power and governing the country. These party systems are practiced in many countries, but that of the multy-party system is practiced in Nigeria today.

In Nigeria today, because of the type of party system practiced, there are over fifty political parties in the country. We all know the role the political party plays in a political arrangement, and that is why we are asking whether the type of party system practiced in Nigeria has been beneficial or not to the country.

Ordinarily, a multy-party system provides the electorate wider range of political parties. It also allows for more shades of opinion in the parliament which augurs well for the country. Also the multy-party system because it allows more than two parties, it permits a wide range of ideologies. Another benefit of this party system is that it allows the citizens of a country to exercise their fundamental human rights of political association rather than being throw into political bondage in one or two party system. Another benefit of multy-party system is that viable opposition parties act as watchdogs of the people to the government by subjecting government policies, programmes and actions to continuous criticisms which helps to improve the performance of the government. With this party system the scope of political education the electorate receives tend to widen. Also it can guarantees smooth change of Government.

However, despite these advantages that accrue from the practice of multy-party system, what is happening in the political arena of Nigeria has forced us to pose the question as to whether this multy-party system has been an asset or liability to not only the political life of Nigeria but also the whole life of the country.

Yes we agree with the benefits got from the multy-party system. But then it is very expensive to run and it has remained very expensive for the Nigerian government to maintain them. Since it is the case that the Government funds them, the amount of money spent on these political parties monthly is much. When over forty political parties receive more than thirty million naira monthly from the federation account, how then can we talk about development? If these monies were channeled to other projects, would they not be more useful to the populace?

More so the existence of many political parties leads to unhealthy rivalry. This situation results in oppression, suppression and detention without trial of leaders or members of the opposition party. This is so the case where during the period of election some members of the opposition are detained for one ingenuine reason or the other. The aspirants of these opposition parties are usually the target as so many things are done to refrain them from contesting since probably they will win the election.  The case of the CAN gubernatorial aspirant of Akwa Ibom state in the just concluded election is a typical example. Are we not aware too that political aspirants from different parties insult and destroy their fellow contestant image during Campaign?

Consequent upon the above, political instability is created in the country as evident in the Nigerian society. The frequent cases at the election petitions tribunal give room for the instability of government and its inefficiency. When everyday a particular government is under a case in the court, there is no way it can concentrate on her duty. Instead her attention is drawn to the case in court where everything humanly possible is done so as to retain the government. In such a situation, the programme the government has for the citizens remain at a pause until the court issue is resolve. This is actually the case in the Nigerian society. At least the experience of the citizens of Abia State after the 2007 general elections is a clear instance of this issue.

Again, flowing from the above is the waste of human and natural resources which would have been directed towards the urgent task of national development. As this court cases are going on different governments channel greater part of their resources to it which is used to bribe important persons. This most often results to non-payment of salaries of government workers and underdevelopment in other areas of the society. Again the experience of the citizens of Abia State after the 2007 general elections confirms this fact. This unprofitable political rivalry results into waste of resources and subsequently under-development.

In addition, the practice of multy-party system leads to National disintegration. It acts as powerful instruments for disintegrating the people and tends to sometimes tend to emphasize religious and ethnic differences of the people. This is usually the case during elections in Nigeria. During this period most friends and close associates become enemies (no matter the degree) as a result of belonging to different political party. In some places whereby a fellow joins a different political party from the others, the treatment given to him/her becomes unfriendly. In some cases too, one cannot win favour from people in different political party. This is just at the masses level. At the National level, this disunity is also felt. Some state governments in the country do not receive some benefits from the federal government especially during previous administrations just because they do not belong to the same party with the presidency. Again, federal government presence is denied them because they are not of the same party with the presidency.

Also, the multy-party system encourages election violence. The existence of many political parties in a multy-party system and the competitions that go with it expose the country to all forms of election malpractices like reading and others. This is usually the case during elections in Nigeria. During this period, the citizens are compelled to voting for a particular party as against the individual’s wish. In some places, the ballot boxes for some parties are not present and as such either the voters are encouraged to vote for the ones present or they do not cast their vote at all. This has been the case in Nigeria and even during the last general elections which was internationally regarded as free and fair. The people of Isialangwa South Local Government area of Abia state witnessed this situation; and other parts of the country too.

More still, the multy-party system does not guarantee harmony in the parliament. This is also the case in Nigeria. The inability of the opposition party/parties to win a clear cut majority in the parliament makes the members delay and get in the way of the passage of some bills. Again, it causes conflicts among the members of the parliament with regards to their other duties like screening of candidates and confirmations for political appointments. In most cases, this aspect divides the members of the red and green chambers of the parliament.

These problems and many more are the consequences of the practice of multy-party system in Nigeria. Although it has some benefits, its demerits are more. And judging from the above, it may not be an asset to the country.

Nevertheless, the multy-party system may not be the worst party systems for others have their own problems. But with the so much resources used in maintaining the many parties, the other demerits can be managed to a better state. Even though Opposition is in a way natural, it can also be controlled and be converted into a good one as constructive criticisms are rendered and rivalries totally wiped out. There is no gain in disunity and ordinarily the different parties are not in existence to cause that. And so the high sense of maturity and the spirit of tolerance will go a long way to reduce the problems associated with the multy-party system; in this way making the party system an asset.

But where this is impossible, another party-system citeris paribus  can be adopted; for the troubles of the multy-party system in Nigeria makes it a huge liability to the country. Besides the size of the country cannot be an excuse to this; for other largely populated countries like Nigeria practice other party system. At least USA uses two-party system and the country has not collapsed. And so we can do the same, so as to better our country.