Title: Political Parties And National Integration In The Niger Delta Region
Authors: Moses Goodnews Udo-Udo & Ogedi Jacob
Volume: 8
Issue: 8
Pages: 54-66
Publication Date: 2024/08/28
Abstract:
There is a consensus among scholars that political parties are instruments for national integration and democratic sustenance. This is due to its diverse social base and organizational arrangement, which link the rulers with the ruled on the one hand and, on the other hand, peoples of diverse socio-cultural leanings. The importance of this role is underscored by the fact that the task of engendering national cohesion cannot be confined strictly to formal state institutions alone. Taking a cursory look at the Nigerian state, this paper examined the socio-cultural variations of Nigeria vis-à-vis the expected roles of political parties in national integration. This paper was anchored on the structural functionalism theory and obtained data through secondary sources. So, drawing heavily from Nigerian experiences since 1999, it is held that Nigerian political parties have yet to comprehend or appreciate its role in national integration and nation-building. Rather, the contradictions they engendered merely reinforced integration crises. It was concluded that political parties in Nigeria lack political ideologies but rely on the take-all syndrome with no recourse to party manifestos and programs. The study recommended that political parties should be guided by party ideologies, which should be strictly adhered to by their members when elected into various leadership positions.