PERCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated how residents of Bayelsa State perceive the role of political parties in the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. Three questions guided the study. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of this study consisted of all citizens living in Bayelsa State. The sample was randomly selected among Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Yenagoa and Sagbama citizens. Convenience
sampling technique was adopted. The sample of the study consisted 314 residents of Bayelsa State. A questionnaire titled: “Political Parties and Consolidation of Democracy (PPACOD) was developed and used for data collection. The instrument had a reliability coefficient of 0.58. A simple percentage was used to answer the questions. The findings of the study verified that residents were of the opinion that political parties are not playing the role of consolidating democracy in Nigeria, godfatherism, corruption, electoral challenges and poverty are factors contributing to hindering the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria and that political parties’ politics and internal democracy on the democratic process in Nigeria are moderate. Some recommendations were thus made; there should be a drastic reduction in the issue of relevance of godfatherism, there should be transparency in party primaries, there is a strong need for parties to have ideologies, with set out aims and objectives, this will help strengthen the people’s belief in political parties.