Post on 22-Feb-2016
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Nigeria’s Political Parties
Overview of Nigerian Political Parties
Usually regionally/ethnically based. Multiparty system due to extreme
factionalism Some parties also form around powerful or
charismatic individuals Many parties formed around 1998 with the
Independent National Election Commission (INEC), which is headed by Attahiru Jega.
Peoples Democratic Party Started in 1998 Party of current president
Goodluck Jonathan Neoliberal stance on economic
policies and conservative stance on social issues.
Favors free-market policies Has more leftist stance towards
poverty and welfare Moderate advocate for state
autonomy and religious freedom
Congress for Progressive change
Founded 2009 Mohammadu Buhari ran as CPC
candidate in 2011 More left-wing than PDP Supports individual liberty, social welfare
for less priveleged, and a federal system of government
Break-off faction of ANPP (All Nigerian People’s Party)
Popular in the north
All Nigeria Peoples Party Founded 1998 Buhari was the ANPP candidate in 2003
and 2007 before switching to the CPC. Popular in the north Very conservative, both socially and
economically. Currently the main opposition party of
the PDP
Action Congress of Nigeria Founded 2006 Formed as a merger of several
minor parties Classical liberalism: advocates
political and economic freedom and limited government with rule of law.
Strong presence in the west, southwest and north central regions.
Has 2 presidential aspirants: Nuhu Ribadu and Attahiru Bafarawa
Current Party Trends The top three parties are the PDP, ANPP, and ACN. Many parties have started to lose their regional
bases and now draw support from all over the country.
In order to reduce the number of parties, each had to earn at least 5% of the vote in 2/3s of the states to qualify for presidential or legislative elections.
Corruption is widespread; as a result, voters have switched to the “open secret ballot” system, in which voters registered at polling stations and wait until their results were posted locally to prevent multiple voting.
Current Party Trends (Cont.) A new political party, the All
Progressives Congress (APC) was formed in 2013 as a merger of the ACN, CPC, ANPP, and APGA: http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/02/13/the-merger-this-time/
INEC has been accused of corruption and has received criticism over the years, most recently for the deregistration of 28 political parties: http://allafrica.com/stories/201212080336.html
There are currently 27 parties registered with INEC
Interest Groups DO play an important role in
government Civil society contributes to democratic
ideals Based on: religion, labor, business,
rights and politics Example: Muslim interest groups
support the sharia law system in North
Labor Unions Before 1980s: independent and
powerful Under Babangida regime: limited
influence under state corporatism – govt. chooses which groups are represented, who leads them
Now: Central Labor Organization, with people approved by Babangida
Have protests: 2003, unions across country protested govt. raising oil prices
Strikes National Labor
Congress led a successful strike in 2007: workers across Nigeria protest govt. raise in fuel prices and taxes
Govt. agreed to rescind hikes, but still subsidizes oil
Recent Issues January 1, 2012 – govt. removed oil
subsidy Unpopular because it raised prices of
oil from N65 to over N140. Protest video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpc8gwCXDn8
Business Interests Mostly agree with military regime Shares the spoils of elite classes Some in private sector (manufacturers,
butchers, car rental firms) Those outside govt. promote economic
reform
Human Rights Groups Examples: students, teachers, civil
liberty organizations, doctors, lawyers Protested abuse of Babangida &
Abacha regimes Street demonstrations/protests in
1997-98 Now loosely connected, but could help
rise of democracy
Mass Media Mass Media Overview: Independence of the media Tradition/history of Nigerian media Examples of media sources Stepping stones in the media sector Examples of Nigerian mass media
Independence of the MediaNigeria’s press is… Surprisingly well-developed (surprising due
to Nigeria’s classification as a less-developed nation)
Independent – exemplified through Nigeria’s resurgence of newspapers even after General Abacha attempted to close the most influential and respected Nigerian newspapers/magazines (1994)
Independence originates from Azikiwe’s “West African Pilot,” the first independent newspaper
Tradition/history of Nigerian Media Characteristically lively Tradition established by history – Henry
Townsend established “Iwe Iroyn” paper Mass media perpetuates regional cleavage
(north vs. south): southern newspapers tend to be the most outspoken regarding social, political, economic issues, while fewer outspoken newspapers and media sources exist in the north
Mass media adds to region-based stereotypes as, the southern newspapers exhibit a more aggressive tone (further creating a negative attitude towards northerners)
Examples of Media SourcesPopular media sources include… “Post Nigeria” (English) “Eagle Reporter” (selective concerning
audience – distributed to Abuja, Lagos, Jos, Kano, Kabuna, Portharcourt)
“Liberty Report” “Niger Delta Standard” There are hundreds of different
newspaper sources Vision FM (Abuja); 92.9 ASO Radio (Abuja); 94.7
Stepping Stones in the Media Sector 2007 election fraud portrayed in the “Post Nigeria:” this
southern newspaper demonstrated that the national legislature and position of president were corrupted under fraud regarding elections by means of extra unused ballots illegally marked and stuffed into ballot boxes
Journalism: southern journals expressed criticism of explicit, unjust governmental actions
Radio: serves as main source of information in Nigeria, as all 36 Nigerian states run their own radio stations (exemplifies independence of the media at state level
Statistic: 24 people per 100 people read the daily newspaper (average rate of
Elections in NigeriaStephen Idol
Presidential Elections
Candidate must win majority to win election
If no one wins majority in first round, second ballot election may be held
Presidential candidate must also receive at least 25% of vote in at least 2/3 of states
Legislative Elections
Nigeria has Senate and House of Representatives
Senate has 109 senators (three from each of 36 states and one from capital of Abuja)
Senate elected by popular vote, first-past-the-post plurality, SMD’s
House of Representatives has 360 members, also elected by popular vote from SMD’s first-past-the-post plurality system
Election History: 2003 Elections 2003 elections widely considered to be
fraudulent by international observers Several politicians, including Marshall
Henry of All Nigeria People’s Party, assassinated
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared 6 million votes to be fraudulent, removed them from voter rolls
INEC’s actions unfortunately didn’t stop fraud
Obasanjo won election
2007 Elections:
Obasanjo tried to run for third term, legislature would not pass law to let him do so
INEC declared VP Abubakar ineligible to run, but Supreme Court ruled that INEC had no such power
Flawed last-minute ballots printed to accommodate Supreme Court ruling
2007 Elections Continued Many problems:
› Shortage of ballots› Ballot-box theft› Delay in ballot delivery› Lack of voter privacy› Fraud
Many voters protested; situation became violent and approximately 200 people died in riots
Yar’Adua of Muslim north became president
2011 Elections Goodluck Jonathan of PDP won election as
incumbent (Yar’Adua died halfway through term and Jonathan became president)
Considered great improvement over 2007 elections (less fraud)
However, elections still revealed north-south, Muslim-Christian cleavages
Goodluck Jonathan, southern Christian, dominated in southern states
Muhammadu Buhari, northern Muslim, dominated northern states
Widespread violent protest, arson, and bombings in northern cities; military had to restore order
2011 Electoral Map
2011 Electoral Data
59%
32%
5%4%
Nigeria 2011 Presdidential Election ResultsGoodluck Jonathan, PDP Muhammadu Buhari, CPC Nuh Ribadu, ANC Other
Sources
http://www.inecnigeria.org/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/ Wood Book