CHALLENGES OF INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY UNDER THE 2022 ELECTORAL IN PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Internal party democracy in Nigeria is beset with myriads of challenges which make it difficult to be achieved within political parties in Nigeria. Some of the observable challenges include imposition of candidates, controversies, internal wrangling, godfatherism, lack of ideology, inadequate provisions in the Electoral Act and inherent loopholes which politicians capitalize on, to undermine internal party democracy. This objective of the study is to establish whether or not the Electoral Act 2022 achieved its objectives of promoting internal party democracy as well as identifying challenges militating against achieving internal party democracy in Plateau state, Nigeria. Elite theory was adopted to explain the variables and a descriptive survey design was used due to the large sample size of the study. A total of 384 card carrying members of APC, LP and PDP formed the sample of the study. Findings reveal that poverty, selfish political interests and lack of party ideology are responsible for the failure of the Act in promoting internal party democracy. Again, non-adherence to democratic party principles and judicial interpretations are challenges standing on the way of achieving internal party democracy in Plateau state, Nigeria. This implies that internal party democracy will continually be undermined if the key findings of this study are not addressed. The study recommended the review of the Act; making adequate provisions, part-time legislation and two-party system. Moreover, independence of the judiciary and judicial review of judgments by an independent panel of judges will help promote internal party democracy in Plateau state and Nigeria at large.