Rescuing the Electorate from the Political Party: The Imperative of Political Education for Voter De-Alignment in Nigeria

Abstract

One of the organs of political education is the political party. Political parties are also the candle lights that lead and provide guidance to the majority of the electorate when general elections are imminent. Through their manifestos, they raise national consciousness by shedding more light on the activities and plans of the incumbent or in-coming governments. Despite the performance of these functions by political parties in Nigeria, democratic governance over the years has reflected a divergence from the promises made to the electorate while mirroring the deeply ingrained partisan voter alignment that asserts the interests and dominance of the ‘few’ to the detriment of those of the majority. The propositions of the elite theory and the dominant-ideology and sociological models provide the basis on which the renegation of campaign promises by the elected individuals thrives. The paper reiterates the calls for professional political education to improve the status quo. The processes focusing on voter de-alignment and realignment should engage the electorate through (re)socialization mechanisms that enhance their capacities for the in-depth evaluation of politics and related issues. Further, they should reposition the electorate on the requisite pedestal which on one hand affords effective political exchange, interactions and renegotiations for their future and on the other, does not relegate them. The recommendations of the paper include political counseling proposals for empowering the electorate with modalities for redefining and reestablishing beneficial relationships with their political leaders. The proper implementation of these strategies is expected to elicit tangible political sensitization, value-reorientation of the electorate and a redesign of Nigeria’s political landscape that will culminate in the achievement of political-cum-socio-economic growth and development.

Keywords: party manifestos, political education, political counseling, value re-orientation, voter realignment, socio-political development