INTRA-PARTY CONFLICTS AND DEMOCRACY: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE 2023 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Hitherto, studies on democracy and party politics have directed more attention at inter-party wranglings across various levels of the Nigerian State. This study seeks to examine the nature, patterns and variables perceived to be responsible for conflicts within various political parties involved in the electioneering process. This study adopted the historical research design reflective of the qualitative nature of the study. The game theory and conflict theory were combined to examine the variables. Our findings show that, political parties determining the leadership pattern in Nigeria, internal conflict in political parties is an inevitability, intra-party conflicts occurs when the constitution of the party is not followed or there is a bias, when the interest of certain groups are not met, when the standard bearer is not sellable cum generally accepted, etcetera. We recommended that, zoning formula should be maintained, the runner-up in the primaries be given the leverage to choose who becomes the vice-president, and one of the major determinants to become a party's standard bearer, is a minimum of two years membership to align with party's ethos and etcetera. Our work would be the most recent that suggests a pragmatic approach to managing the internal politics in the party. Moreso, it is going to be a very rich and useful material for subsequent research of similar interests.