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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Manufacturing the Two-Party System in Nigeria
Author:Akinola, Anthony A.ISNI
Year:1990
Periodical:Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics
Volume:28
Issue:3
Period:November
Pages:309-327
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:multiparty systems
Politics and Government
External link:https://doi.org/10.1080/14662049008447594
Abstract:In strict adherence to the outlined programme of return to civilian rule in Nigeria, President Babangida lifted the ban on party politics in May 1989. 13 political associations felt prepared to apply to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for a place among the two parties to be registered, but the NEC could not stamp its authority on any two of the political associations as none had fulfilled the requirements. Consequently, President Babangida announced the creation of two new political parties, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC). Although this creation of two political parties was considered by many commentators as artificial, his formula was greeted with loud acclaim by a large segment of the Nigerian population. But can the two-party system work? 'Immaculate parties' are utopian and, although it is reasonable to expect that, in so far as the military is around to mediate conflict, politicians will pretend to be tolerant and accommodating, the general fear is that ethnicity and religion pose a great threat to the survival of the two-party arrangement. The author concludes that Nigeria's quest for a forced two-party system would seem to be sheer obsession with the successes of the two-party systems of Britain and America. But the culture of 'give and take' which is 'sine qua non' to the success of democracy, and whose absence explains the failure of Nigeria's previous attempts at civilian rule, cannot be brought about by the 'aping' of the American system. Notes, ref.
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