Authors : Abada Ifeanyichukwu Michael, Okafor , Nneka Ifeoma, Tr. Omeh and Paul Hezekiah
Abstract: The dismantling of autocratic and Aristotelian regimes and dynasties in Africa following the forces of colonialism and later, the independence of greater number of developmental states in post-colonial Africa has swiftly ushered in democracy. As a political entity, Nigeria having gotten her flag independence in 1960 has been influenced significantly by the exogenous forces of democracy and democratization process taking over the world polity as contained in the philosophy of liberalism. But in as much as the wave of democracy seems to be appreciated, it has been truncated by the post colonial characteristics of African political demagogues internal wrangling among elites in the political parties striving to select candidates for their personal aggrandizement at the expense of the mass members of the party. This is believed, affects the entrenchment of democratic values in Nigerian political system. However, arising from the premise of the study, it is the thrust of the paper to investigates how leaders of political parties in Nigeria have been implicated in the selection of candidates, political party decision making and their implications in withering the democratic modulation in the country. The study utilized qualitative method in generating its data, while content analysis was employed. The theoretical frame work of analysis is adequately anchored on the theory of elite as propounded by Vilfredo Pareto, Graetano Mosca and Robert Mitchel. The findings of the study has significantly revealed that the inabilities of developmental states to appreciate the dividends of democracy is chiefly attributed to unholy democratic characters exhibited by big party stalwarts while selecting candidates to contest vacant political positions in the country. Therefore, arising from the findings, the paper recommends among others; that political parties should strive for democratic holiness. Hence, there is need to reposition the letters and spirit of its constitution in selection of candidates to fill vacant political positions.
Abada Ifeanyichukwu Michael, Okafor , Nneka Ifeoma, Tr. Omeh and Paul Hezekiah, 2020. Machine Politics Intra-Party Polyarchy and Democratic Recession in Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 17: 210-216.