A professor of Comparative Politics and Public Administration at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Prof. Bolaji Omitola, has faulted constitutional provisions regulating the formation, registration and operation of political parties, saying they have narrowed Nigeria’s political space.
Omitola spoke while delivering the 29th inaugural lecture of the university, titled: “Governance in Nigeria: Between David and Goliath,” arguing that conditions imposed on associations seeking recognition as political parties under the 1999 Constitution had restricted free political association and undermined Nigeria’s federal character.
According to him, Nigeria’s constitutional development had progressively concentrated political and administrative powers at the centre, weakening the states and limiting political competition.
“The constitutional conditions imposed on the formation, registration and operation of political parties had contributed to the narrowing of Nigeria’s political space,” he said.
Omitola recalled that Nigeria operated a multiparty system at independence, with political parties emerging largely from nationality, ethnic and regional associations.
He, however, noted that the 1999 Constitution imposed several conditions on associations before they could be recognised as political parties, with Sections 221 to 229 regulating their activities, constitutions, objectives, finances and operations.
The professor also faulted requirements compelling political parties to reflect the federal character principle in their executive committees and maintain national headquarters in Abuja.
He argued that political parties should be allowed to develop into national organisations naturally rather than through constitutional compulsion.
“The effect of this is the development of parties with a national outlook which consist of people that lack common interest or common values on programmes and activities of those political parties,” he said.
Omitola warned that excessive centralisation of party structures had enabled national executives to exercise undue control over grassroots activities, including party primaries.
He added that Nigeria’s political economy had encouraged the emergence of dominant parties and centralisation of political power, contrary to the principles of federalism which promote bargaining, consensus, coalition building and accommodation of diversity.
“Rather than serve the purpose of integration through recognition of diversities through bargaining, consensus and coalition building, what has been the stock in trade of political parties in Nigeria is repressive integration or harmony defined in terms of supplanting opposition,” he said.
The don also linked Nigeria’s governance challenges to excessive concentration of powers at the centre and called for a review of the country’s governance structure.
Omitola maintained that Nigeria’s future as a stable federation depended on promoting autonomy, participation and responsiveness while retaining sufficient national coordination to guarantee unity and stability.
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