The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution resumes a retreat today in ASA Pyramid Hotels in Kaduna.
After the presentation of His Lordship retired Justice Mohammed Uwais on the Topic, Electoral Reform in Nigeria, Senator Maeba Lee (PDP) Representing Rivers South East advocates that a two party system should be entered into law. He states that the only credible election the nation has ever heard was during the SDP and NRC days under option A4. Most senators supported his advocacy,
what is your take on  this?
Senator Lee also wants the constitution to remove the clause that restrict people's movement during election as the same constitution gave the people  freedom of movement.

Before talking of parties the issues to be addressed:-

-the suitability of this Presidential system
-the nature of this unitary system of government operating today
-the virtually dormant local governments

Thereafter you can talk about the parties. In my opinion, they want to
gloss over these vital issues again and leave us in the middle of nowhere.

Any decision taken on the above matters will determine party structure
and powers of the local and state governments and of course the number of
parties . You could have local/regional parties and coalitions at both state and
federal levels or parties cutting across regional divides in support of various
interests like labour.

For me, the presidential system should be avoided as it is not only costly
but it also gives this winner takes all mentality that makes the center(ABUJA)
the center of all things when it is supposed to be the other way. Make ABUJA
unattractive and you will reduce corruption and this do or die politics.

It is this same mentality that has produced this lame duck parliament that
discusses the budget and goes to sleep, leaving vital issues that do not affect
their pockets like the fundamentals of the economic and social development
of our society to theback burner.

The way they are going, I doubt if they are even serious about amending the constitution as most of the recommendations of the ERC (Electoral Reform Committee) if implemented will not be in their favour. Just Imagine Sen. Folashade Grace Bent, suggesting that Tenure of office should be as long as the legislators can win election as change in legislators every second term is responsible for lack of continuity of policy.
Those that make sense?

Well the general outlook of the SDP ,NRC elections was the best we ever had, however that was just during the elections. The post-election era was so short-lived that the inherent self-serving tendencies of the average Nigerian poltician had not started blossoming

What I simply mean is :

1. How sure are we that the ruling party(may be SDP) would not have embarked on measures to slice the opposition to the minutest size in a bid to perpetuate certain elements in power?

2. How sure are we that politicians in the opposition would not have gravitated enmasse to the ruling party in a bid to quench the thirst for lucre.

We all know that one of the biggest problems of our democracy is the lack of credible,sustainable alternatives.

Some however argue that constraining political ideology into just two strands like the SDP and NRC, had long term damning effect on the nation, since it was only a matter of time before people started seeing that the parties were not fundamentally different afterall.

Speaker of the Sokoto House of Assemble said that the two party system will cre tribalism ate tribalism, as sooner or later, they'll be hijacked by Ethic sentiments. He advocates for minimum of 5 political parties and maximum of 7.

A two party system is something that naturally arises in most multi-party democracies due to political consolidation; it's not something that should be enforced by a decree.  A two party system where the parties are chosen by the government is essentially a dictatorship. 

I mean think about it, it's stupid! If the two parties are corrupt, then there will be no recourse for the common man. That means if a president wants to control Nigeria in perpetuity, all he has to do is appoint his friends as the chairmen of the two parties and then they can do whatever they like forever and ever. Whereas in a multiparty system dominated by two parties, they have to keep fighting for votes to retain their position. That makes them less corrupt.

This issue of multiple party is not really helping this nation. I strongly believe that A 2 party system is the best for Nigeria democracy. the 2 party system will help in unifying the nation. i think it should start fron now.

What difference would it make if we embrace two party system,  since people like Ibori, Kalu, Obasanjo and others still lives

I can guarantee it would be more of nothing than a failure

If we have only two parties in Nigeria, those parties are going to be extremely corrupt and no one will be able to do anything about it. Can you name one successful democracy with a forced two party system? When you take away competition, you are asking for complacency and corruption.

Irrespective of what party system we practice, all Nigeria needs are leaders who love their people and have the fear of God. That is the key to our existence as a nation otherwise it is only a matter of time, Yugoslavia and Russia eventually split.

Seun:

A two party system is something that naturally arises in most multi-party democracies due to political consolidation; it's not something that should be enforced by a decree.  A two party system where the parties are chosen by the government is essentially a dictatorship. 

I mean think about it, it's stupid! If the two parties are corrupt, then there will be no recourse for the common man. That means if a president wants to control Nigeria in perpetuity, all he has to do is appoint his friends as the chairmen of the two parties and then they can do whatever they like forever and ever. Whereas in a multiparty system dominated by two parties, they have to keep fighting for votes to retain their position. That makes them less corrupt.

I know you always make sensible post but never earned my respect due to your atheism, check Psalm 14 v 1.
With today's post, you actually took things to a new level, probably the most intelligent item I've seen in Nairaland in a long while.
Very convincing argument.

I support 2 party system, but i doubt if god of politics OBJ will accept it.

2 party system will be good for nigeria, but like someone said above, there are so many things that has to change and be looked at.
The local govt is being givn money every month and yet they seems to have no effect, they seems to be doing nothing than to just sit and pay the staffs, so how can they be accountable, pls, note that i know that even with 100 party systems, the problem can still be there and it is not the 2-party system that will fix this, but will be nice, if they can look at this too while they are looking at what will work for the nation.

A two party system will be disastrous. Think about it, can anyone name the ideology that underpins PDP, AC, ANPP or APGA? The only one I can think of is 'share de money quick quick'.

At least in the two party system we so admire, the know, at least theoretically, what each party stands for. I think, as usual, the ordinary Nigerian will suffer. It'll leave us with no choice and we all already the politicians have no problems crossing carpet if the likely outcome does not suit them, so it'll be the same people we'd end up voting for, regardless of the banner the campaign under.

As an aside, are they inviting everyday folks to witness this whole process?

wether 1 party or 2, even 3 or 100 self if God no kom for our rescue, we are just wasting our damn time

the solution to the situation of NIGERIA is beyond human knowledge

would independents and outliers such as the green party and libertarian party be allowed to exist in a 2 party democracy?


I don't like this idea.

No, i dont support it.

Like someone said if the 2 parties are corrupt we are doomed.

yes I do. It is a more organized political system, cheaper, and easier to maintain.

Ha! two parties would just make it easier to hold on to power and also to rig. Dictatorship is the end result.
Democracy entails freedom in government and multiple choices of those who intend to govern.

Ok guys let list the advantages and disadvantages pls, that will shine more light into this topic.

2 party system is the best. PDP Vs Others

Whatever the number of party, if the mindset of Nigerians are not changed, no positive result could come out of the project called Nigeria. A 2 party system could be ok if the opposition will remain a strong, formidable and objective opposition like the UPN in the 1979-1983 regime.

This set of politicians will never remain in opposition, rather they will either cross carpet or compromise their stand for a piece of National cake. e.g Gbenga Daniel will never have been a governor if he had remained with the progressives.

This idea called Nigeria has over stayed its welcome, the agreement of amalgamation of 1914 gave a clause to disintegrate if it does not work after 30yrs. Is it really working, lets go back to our regions or make all state autonomous.

But we must exclude ethnic brawl if 2 party system is to succeed in nigeria.

ethnic brawl is fine if channeled correctly

i think a 2 party system is exactly what nigeria needs

and parties based on ideas and not cronies,

1 unitary party
and 1 federalism party


pdp is already a unitary party and therefore the alternative has to be one that advocates federalism

on the ethnic note, hausa's seem to be more inclined towards a unitary gov. It benefits them cause they need resources from other places and thus federalism would Bleep them up (so they think) and if they can control a unitary gov they'll be competitive and relevant

for everyone else but a lesser degree yorubas, federalism is needed for them to keep their resources and remain competitive

i think that if our politics reflected this dynamic in a civil manner, the way the US reflects the rich v poor black v white dynamic with the dem. v republicans system, we can have a more functional competition based on ideas and not cronies and connections

remove the yorubas, edo , delta and bayelsa state into benin republic. multiple party is the best. 2 party would end in a one party state. they would bribe the other party.

I sort of agree with the Sokoto state House of asembly speaker. Multi party system democracy is best for Nigeria but at the same time the number of parties should be limited to a manageable number for organisational reasons. Many of the current political parties just exist in name and are there just to collect political party grant from INEC.

remove the yorubas, edo , delta and bayelsa state into benin republic. multiple party is the best. 2 party would end in a one party state. they would bribe the other party.

This thread would not complete without becomerich. Haba na one track mind u get o!

On topic, how can you legislate a two party system? Nowhere in the world has that ever been done. Are you going to define their ideology or their goals? Their political structure and membership? What a disaster that would be. The two party system in USA is failing, just look at them in an ideological headlock. They can no longer compromise on even the simplest of issues - it is pure us vs them.

I like parliamentary form of government for 9ja. It matches our multicultural background. I believe state govt's need more power to legislate and organize their own resources, as long as allotment is made back to other states according to guidelines set forth in the constitution. Just look what Fashola is doing in Lagos.

A 2-party system is best for a populous country like ours, it will reduce election rigging, once the majority is at the right the side, it will be difficult for Iwu and his likes to bring votes from no where.

Topic,
What we need in Nigeria is parties with firm political structure ,clearly defined views and stand not group of political prostitutes(which is what we presently have on ground).

2 party system would end up as christian vs muslim parties. Muslim leaders wouldn't like that, because it would show their numerical inferiority.

naijaking1:

2 party system would end up as christian vs muslim parties. Muslim leaders wouldn't like that, because it would show their numerical inferiority.

why you like to discredit yaself with dishonest disinformation na? ya analysis and conclusion dey completely wrong as usual. even illiterates know say for southwest, muslims plenty pass christians and we know say de north na overwhelmingly muslims. so how you take reach ya own conclusion?

my conclusion be say, you dey politically uncivilized. ya own savvy na to dey support the elite group wey you belong to.

make you tanda for london or germany dey comment about possible political makeup of nigeria instead make you sef come run for office. many of una no get clue as to how government dey run for nigeria at all, una dey quite naive.