Authors : Omeh P. Hezekiah, Abada M. Ifeanyichukwu, Nwoke Cordelia, Chukwu Q. Chukwu, Ozor Adanne, Ubong B. Ibongudo, Aligwara K. Chukwuma, Madu P. Chidi, Oguwuike F. Izuchukwu and Odoeme T. Erochukwu
Abstract: The dismantling of autocratic dynasties in Africa by the forces of colonialism and much later, the independence of several developmental states, swiftly ushered in democracy in post-colonial Africa. As a political entity, Nigeria having gotten her political "flag" independence in 1960 has significantly been influenced by the exogenous forces. 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, no doubt, affects the entrenchment of democratic values in Nigerian political system. It is the objective 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 of secondary data collection while content analysis was employed. The theoretical frame work of analysis is adequately anchored on the theory of elite. The finding of the study 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, the study recommends among others that political parties should strive for democratic holiness.
Omeh P. Hezekiah, Abada M. Ifeanyichukwu, Nwoke Cordelia, Chukwu Q. Chukwu, Ozor Adanne, Ubong B. Ibongudo, Aligwara K. Chukwuma, Madu P. Chidi, Oguwuike F. Izuchukwu and Odoeme T. Erochukwu, 2020. Machine Politics, Intra-Party Polyarchy and Democratic Recession in Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 17: 242-247.