PARTY POLITICS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN NIGERIA: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF 2018 PRIMARY ELECTIONS OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) AND THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to underscores how party politics and conflict resolution played out in the conduct of the 2018 Primary Elections of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The conduct of 2018 Party Primaries has been described as one of the most acrimonious in recent times. The study relied essentially on secondary sources to show how internal democracy played out during the primary elections.  The findings of the research show that there was lack of internal party democracy as well as non-compliance with Electoral Laws by the political parties during the conduct of the 2018 primary elections. Instances of such disputes were recorded in some states like Rivers, Oyo, Delta, Ogun, Benue, Zamfara, and Lagos etc. Findings also show that series of conflict/disputes arising during the primary election were not properly managed through the internal party mechanism of the political parties. The conflicts/disputes were evident in Rivers and Zamfara States where the aggrieved parties sued in court and the matter eventually laid to rest by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The Apex Court denied APC in Rivers State the opportunity to field candidates in the 2019 Elections. Also the Apex court nullified the outcome of 2019 General Elections in Zamfara State.  The study recommends that conflict management resolution is best anchored through Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) and Internal Party Mechanisms. ADR will help to mitigate non-adherence to Party Constitution and Electoral Laws, Non-transparency of candidates’ choosing in primary elections as well as in Party Executive positions would go a long way reducing occasional decampment of many party stalwarts. Other recommendations include but not limited to: adherence of political parties to internal party democracy and compliance with the Electoral laws as well as the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in conflict management rather than settlement through litigations.