CONDUCT OF POLITICAL PARTIES

  Atta Barkindo argues the need to strengthen the electoral process

 Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, there has been a steady increase in political participation and engagement by both state and non-state actors, including the electorate. While Nigeria’s democracy continues to grow, stakeholders in the political and governance space recognise the need for constant assessment.

One important measure of Nigeria’s democratic progress lies in the behavior and activities of political parties. Political parties play a crucial role in democratic governance, and their actions significantly impact the success of any election.

In 1999, Nigeria had three political parties, which grew to 30 in 2003 and 50 in 2007. By 2011, there were 63 registered political parties, and in 2015, the number increased even further. The 2019 general elections witnessed the participation of 91 political parties, with 73 fielding candidates for the presidential seat.

However, following a review of political party performance after the 2019 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deregistered 74 political parties, reducing the number to 18. This move, advocated for by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), aimed to streamline the political landscape and provide Nigerians with a clearer choice among candidates based on their party manifestos.

While INEC’s constitutional mission is to ensure free, fair, and credible elections, its authority is limited when it comes to regulating the behavior of political parties, their candidates, and spokespersons before, during, and after elections. It is widely acknowledged that Nigeria’s general elections are marred by verbal and physical attacks, contributing to a tense and divisive political atmosphere.

In past elections, politicians have resorted to casting aspersions and engaging in unsavory rhetoric targeting their opponents. For example, the political campaigns that preceded the 2015 general elections were dominated by religious, ethnic and hate slurs that many analysts predicted the disintegration of Nigeria. Such unethical actions further exacerbate existing ethnic and religious divides, undermining the democratic process. Reports from the Kukah Centre, a policy research institute that serves as the secretariat for the National Peace Committee supported by the European Union through the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), indicate widespread electoral misconduct by politicians and their parties during the 2023 general elections.

To promote peaceful electoral conduct, the National Peace Committee, with support from the EU, facilitated two peace accords signed by the presidential candidates and political parties. The first accord, signed in September 2022, committed parties to peaceful conduct during rallies and campaigns, emphasizing issue-based discussions over personal attacks. The second accord, signed on February 22, 2023, focused on accepting the election results and seeking legal recourse in case of grievances.

According to the Kukah Centre’s findings, political parties demonstrated a significant failure to uphold the first peace accord, with a 70% non-compliance rate. Parties failed to maintain decorum in public conduct and communication, including interviews in print and electronic media. However, the second peace accord fared better, with approximately 90% compliance in accepting election results and seeking legal redress.

For instance, following the presidential election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and other major parties rejected the results. However, in adherence to the peace accord, they pursued legal recourse instead of inciting their supporters.

Moving forward, stakeholders in politics and governance recognize the need for greater efforts to promote peaceful conduct among political players, particularly political parties, their candidates, and spokespersons. Politicians should receive training on constructive criticism of opponents and effectively marketing their agendas without crossing ethical boundaries.

Furthermore, as INEC continues to leverage technology for transparent and credible elections, there is a need to enhance the capacity of both permanent and ad hoc staff. Strengthening the electoral process and ensuring the delivery of results that Nigerians and the international community can trust should be a priority.

Fr. Barkindo writes from Abuja