The One-Party, Two-Party or Multi-Party System: Which Way Nigeria?

Publication Date : 08/01/2020

Author(s) :

Idris O. Haruna, Ph.D.

Volume/Issue :

Volume 1

Issue 1

(01 - 2020)

Abstract :

The party system comprises mostly of the one-party, the two-party and the multi-party systems. While some countries have practiced the one-party system such as Russia and China, others have practiced the two-party system such as Britain and the United States of America (USA). But other countries like Nigeria, France, Italy, etc. have practiced the multi-party system. Nigeria is a plural society. The multi-party system appears to be best for a plural society. However, experience has shown that nations have evolved the type of democracy that best serves the wishes and aspirations of their people. Because of the weak political culture in Nigeria, the multi-party system has been abused to the extent that there are 91 registered political parties in the country, 73 of which contested the office of the president in the 2019 general elections. This easily leads to a chaotic situation in the electoral processes. A Ph.D. research work conducted in 2015 revealed that Nigerians preferred the two-party system as against the present multi-party system as practiced in the country. It is therefore suggested in this paper that the two-party system be introduced in Nigeria as this reflects the wishes of Nigerians. It is also recommended that an elaborate research be conducted by the state to further confirm the wishes of the Nigerian people in this regard.