TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Title
Page…………………………………………………
Approval
Page……………………………………………
Certification………………………………………………
Dedication………………………………………………...
Acknowledgement………………………..………………
Table of contents…………………………………………..
Abstract…………………………………………………...
CHAPTER ONE: Introduction
Background of the
study…………………………………
Statement of the
Problem……….……………………….
Objective of the
Study…………………………………..
Significance of
the Study………………………………..
Research
Question ………………………………………
Research
Hypotheses …………..……………………….
Scope of the
Study ………………………………………
Limitation of
the Study …………………………………
Definition of
Terms …………..………………………….
CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review
Conceptual Framework
..………………………………..
Basis for
Political Participation …………………..……
Trends in
Development of Political Parties in Nigeria…
Formation and
Development of PDP ………………….
Crisis
Management in Nigeria Party System…………..
CHAPTER THREE: Research Methodology
Research
Design ………………………………………
Method
of Data Collection …………………………...
Method
of Data Analysis …………………………….
Sample
Size……………………………………………
CHAPTER FOUR: Data Analysis and
Interpretation
Analysis
and Findings …….………….………………
Summary
of the Result ………………………………
CHAPTER FIVE: Summary, Conclusion and
Recommendations
Summary
……………………………………………..
Conclusion
….………..…………………………..…..
Recommendations
……………………………………..
REFERENCES
ABSTRACT
The
main objective of this research work/ is to critically examine the party
politics and crisis management in Nigeria party system since inception which is
limited to Peoples’ Democratic Party. In line with the research questions,
hypothesis was formulated. It was on this note that principal findings were
deducted. Conclusively, it is of the researcher opinion that this project will
serve as a guide and reference materials to students’ and potential scholars in
related field and to all political parties in Nigerian.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the
Study
The
Federal Republic of Nigeria covered an area of 923,76889km on the shores of the
Gulf of Guinea. Its population is extremely diverse with over 250 ethnic group
including Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Tiv, Kanuri, Edo, Nupe, Ibibio and Ijaw account for nearly 80% of the total
population.
The
coastal enclave of Lagos became a British Colony in 1861, a center for
expansion of British trade, missions and political influence. Late 18th
and early 20th century, Lagos was also a center for educated West
African elements which were to play prominent roles in the development of
Pan-Africanism as well as Nigerian Nationalism.
The Northern and Southern Nigeria were merged into single
territory in 1914, and a legislative council initially with limited African
representation was created in 1922. Traditional native rulers however admitted
various territories under the supervision of the colonial government. In 1947 a
Federal system of government was established under kingdom. This system was
based on three region; Eastern, Western and Northern.
Before independence, nationalist continued their demand for
the extension of franchise and the holding of direct elections. The federation
became self-governing in 1954. The Federation of Nigeria achieves independent
on 1st October 1960, Tafawa Balewa of (NPC) Northern People Congress
became the federal prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and Dr.
Nnamdi Azikwe of NCNC became the Head of state. This continued until October
1963 when the country adopted a revised constitution and Dr. Azikwe took office
as Nigeria's first president. The major problem that confronted the federal
Government within the period was threat to Federal Government unity evidence by
ethnic rivalry, factionalism and desire for autonomy within the federal system.
This led to the formation of various political groupings and political
alliances.
Statement of the Problem
In
recent times, Nigeria has been facing various political crises from all level
of government and in most of the major political parties, particularly the
ruling People Democratic party.
We
are aware that parties should possess certain characteristic and that they are
meant to perform certain functions, hence we shall try to assess the role of
political parties in Nigeria since 2003 through this research work. Since 2003
the role of political parties is still fluid, in many cases the so called
political parties since 2003 have become a major part of the problem in
Nigeria.
The issues in the plural character of Nigeria should have
reviewed in 1998 as was done in 1989 throwing the system open to anyone with
ethnic and religious agenda. Today tribalism or ethnicity or regionalism or
statism is a reversed platform for aspiring politicians and for those in
various offices in the country. This is a delimitating disease. It is worse
than what Sir. James Robertson released in 1974 when he confessed after
fourteen years of leaving
Nigeria, that the
British colonial rules underestimated the strength of
tribalism in Nigeria.
It’s
obvious that a lot of scholars and people have written on various party
politics and crisis management in Nigeria party system and no agreed and
complete resolution have been made. This has attracted us into embarking on
this research work and write on the crisis and how it was resolved in the past.
This could give the general citizen in future the knowledge to solve future
crisis.
Objectives of the Study
1.
The study is concerned with
the examination of the Nigerian political system and how political crisis is
being managed.
2.
The study views the trends
in development of political parties in Nigeria. That is how political parties
have being performing the growth, achievement and various setbacks from pre
1966 period, the first republic down to the present sixth republic.
3.
It is also to orientate us
on the formation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Their major
political crisis and how they are managed to serve as a step for future
political parties in Nigeria and other Nations.
Significance of the Study
It is hoped that this work will create awareness for the
federal government of Nigeria to work into areas of effectiveness as well as
weakness in her party system with the view of opting for the best system to
implement. The study will serve as guide to the Nigeria citizens on their basic
fundamental human rights and also gives them knowledge on participating in
government.
It
is also hoped that it will have impacts on the nation political parties. The
crisis and management among the Peoples Democratic Parties (POP) will serve as
a lesson to other political parties in Nigeria. It is hoped that the study
would serve as a useful material for future research and researchers.
Research Question
In line with the bjective of
this study, the following research questions were drawn; hypotheses were also
formulated and adopted in order to draw a logical conclusion.
1. Does Nigeria have a viable party system? Is there any prospect of
having a viable party system and what are factors militating against a viable
party system in Nigeria?
2.
Does Nigeria have a
democratic order? Is there any prospect of having a democratic order and what
are the factors impeding the full realization of democratic order in Nigeria?
3.
Has there been any positive
effect of political crisis management to the development and growth of Nigeria
political parties and the future of the fifty two (52) political parties.
Research Hypothesis
Hypothesis I: There is no viable party system in Nigeria, but there is a prospect
of having a viable party system.
Hypothesis II: There is no viable democratic order, but there is a prospect of
having a democratic order in Nigeria
Hypothesis III: There is a significant positive effect of political crisis
management and a meaningful future in the Nigerian political party development.
Scope of the Study
The
scope of the study is concerned with the examination and activities in party
politics and crisis management in Nigerian party system and majorly the crisis
in the Peoples Democratic Party and how they are managed.
Limitation of the Study
This project work will be conducted to study the party
politics and crisis management in Nigerian party system. Particularly in the
People’s Democratic Party. The focus may be for effective and detail
understanding of crisis in political parties, as other parties may have
peculiar cases and situations.
Definition of Terms
Politics: In this study it was seen as the process by which groups make
collective decisions. It is the activity by which differing interests within a
given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in
proportion to their importance to the welfare and the survival of their community.
Party System: Is defined as a type of governmental political arrangement in
which political parties are permitted to operate for the purpose of forming a
government on political party basis.
Political Party: Is an organized group of people who share similar political
opinions, principles, interests and beliefs with the aim of gaining political
power and governing the country.
References
Remi Anifowose and Francis Enemuo (1999). Elements of Politics
Lagos, Maithouse Publisher.
Johnson Ugoji Anyaele (1999). Comprehensive Government for Schools
Ibadan, Delink Publisher.
Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and Shaun Breslin (1993). Comparative
Government and Politics, London Macmillian.
Osemwota, Khakhu and Tonwe (1996). Research and Statistical
Methods in Social Science, Humanities and Education. Nigeria Amfitop Publisher.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Various studies have been
carried out on political party in Nigeria. Also studies 
