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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Colonialism and the Emergence of Party Politics in Nigeria
Authors:Nwosu, Nereus I.ISNI
Olaniyi, Johnson O.
Year:1996
Periodical:Transafrican Journal of History (ISSN 0251-0391)
Volume:25
Pages:20-28
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Nigeria
West Africa
Great Britain
Subjects:colonialism
political parties
Politics and Government
History and Exploration
History, Archaeology
political science
history
imperialism
Abstract:The increased tempo of nationalist activities in colonial Nigeria forced the British to create a platform that would enable the nationalists to take part in the administration of the country. Thus the 'elective principle' was enshrined in the Clifford Constitution of 1922, paving the way for the formation of political parties. Most political associations and parties were formed on sectional bases and tended to see a particular region as their area of control. The colonial government did nothing to counter this, thereby laying the basis for the problems bedevilling party politics in postcolonial Nigeria, where political parties, rather than acting as a unifying force, have tended to divide the country. Post-independent Nigerian political parties imbibed the colonial tenet of striving to maintain a stronghold in an ethnic region. This created problems during the First Republic and partly contributed to its collapse. The same pattern of concentration of particular political parties in specific regions was evident during the Second Republic, and to an extent, during the still-born Third Republic. Political parties attempted to get support in areas outside their primary ethnic base only in order to satisfy the constitutional requirements of party formation. Bibliogr., sum.
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