Party Politics and Internal Crises

One of the major habits of parties in Nigeria is power tussle and internal conflict. This chapter traces the patterns and changing trends of intra-party conflicts in the parties of the Fourth Republic and establishes a link between the conflicts and the successes, challenges and electoral outcomes of the parties. Among the issues discussed in this aspect are the nature of intra-party crises, the causes of intra-party crises, the manifestations and effects of intra-party crises and some case studies, particularly on the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The chapter shows how the conflicts hinder intra-party democracy, disconnect members and the grassroots from party affairs, affect governance and inter-governmental relations as well as party performance in elections.