Curbing the Challenges of Multi Party System in Nigeria: The Need for Independent Candidature

Abstract

Multi-party system and independent candidature are no doubt dividend of democracy. Nigeria operates a multi-party system, which allows the people to decide or elect their leader through competitive elections from the numerous registered political parties. The registered political parties present their candidates through a primary election conducted within the political parties. Once the electorate votes these candidates into office, they are often more committed to their political parties than the electorates who voted them into power. Despite the avenue for multiplicity of political parties in Nigeria, the economic, social, welfare and political situation of the country has remained the same with no sign of improvement. On the other hand, independent candidature is alien to Nigerian democratic system, as it is not provided for in the Constitution and the Electoral Act. It allows an individual to contest for election without being a member of a political party. This study identified the challenges of multi-party system and the need for independent candidature in Nigeria. The relevant primary and secondary sources such as statutes, textbooks, articles, internet materials, reports etc were relied upon in this work. This study however concluded that in order to curb the excesses of political parties, independent candidature should be enacted into Nigerian law so as to give individuals who are independently minded the opportunity to contest in an election without belonging to any political party.

Keywords: Multi-party system, Political parties, Independent candidature, Nigeria, Democracy

DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/84-03

Publication date: April 30^th 2019