Understanding African Political System — the Case of Nigeria’s Structure
Democracy in Nigeria, as in most of Africa, is quite different from what obtains in the western world.
For example, in Nigeria, understanding the political structure or platform is basic for anyone who desires to know how candidates for national elections are produced by the parties.
All political office aspirants must pass through the party’s primaries at the grassroot level to be nominated as the party’s flag bearers for the elections.
The entire country is divided into 36 states and one Federal Capital Territory; and into 774 local government areas with about 10,000 wards as recognised by the constitution.
Every party member must be registered at his ward level and carry a membership card.
It’s at the ward level that real politics is played:
Element 1
Party members meet to elect the Ward Officers who are the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, PRO (Public Relations Officer) and two ex-officio members depending on each party’s preferences. These make up the Ward Executive Committee (Ward Exco).
Element 2
The ward exco is very instrumental in the affairs, especially elections, of a party. Because, it oversees the selection of the ward’s delegates who elect political officers at the party’s convention in all levels.
Element 3
The ward delegates are always lobbied by the electoral candidates to get (or buy) their endorsement and votes during party congresses (local, state and national). This is called party machinery or structure.
Therefore, whoever controls this structure controls or “owns” the party; and it’s always the battle focus within each party.
Recommendation
Whoever desires a change in the system should work hard at ward level. Having people of integrity at the ward excos will secure sanity and healthy governance.
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