By Mahmud Shuaibu Ringim
Nigerian politics has increasingly become a contest for power driven by personal ambition rather than ideological conviction. Drawing from Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, contemporary political actors appear motivated primarily by self-actualisation, with little attention paid to coherent policy frameworks capable of addressing Nigeria’s structural challenges.
Historically, Nigerian politics was not devoid of ideological content. During the Second Republic, political parties exhibited clear ideological orientations. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) favoured market-oriented economic policies, while the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) advocated state-led economic intervention. These ideological distinctions were reflected in party manifestos, particularly in the education sector, where contrasting policy proposals were clearly articulated.
The Third Republic further reinforced ideological differentiation through the creation of the NRC and SDP, deliberately positioned as centre-right and centre-left platforms by the Babangida administration. However, subsequent political experiments, particularly the aborted Fourth Republic under General Abacha, stalled ideological consolidation.
Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigerian politics has largely lacked ideological depth. Political parties have functioned primarily as vehicles for elite competition rather than as platforms for policy contestation. The phenomenon of mass defections—especially from the PDP to the APC—has further weakened party identity and eroded the foundations of ideological politics. In the absence of a credible opposition, democratic accountability remains severely compromised.
The 2023 general election exemplified this ideological vacuum. Critical economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate liberalisation, were not clearly communicated to the electorate prior to implementation. The absence of transparency and adequate social safety mechanisms has contributed to economic hardship, undermining public trust in democratic governance.
For Nigeria’s democracy to mature, political parties must articulate clear ideological positions and policy alternatives. Voters should be presented with distinct economic visions—ranging from market-driven models to state-led development strategies—well before elections. Only through informed electoral choice can Nigeria transition from identity-based politics to ideology-driven democratic governance.
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