TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE                                                                                                                              PAGE

Title page                                                                                                                              i

Certification                                                                                                                                    ii

Dedication                                                                                                                           iii

Acknowledgement                                                                                                             iv

Table of content                                                                                                                  vii

List of Tables                                                                                                                       x

Abstract                                                                                                                                xii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the study                                                                                      1

1.2       Statement of Research problem                                                                         6

1.3       Objectives of study                                                                                                10

1.4       Statement of Hypotheses                                                                                     10

1.5       Significance of study                                                                                             12

1.6       Scope and limitations                                                                                           13

1.7       Definition of terms                                                                                                14

References                                                                                                                            16       

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW/THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 

2.1       Political parties as building blocks of Electoral politics                               19

2.2     Variety in origins and development of political parties.                               22

2.3       Party origins and development in established western

Democracies                                                                                                            23

2.4       Party origins and development in the developing world                            26

2.5       Historical Background of Nigerian political parties                                     27       

2.6       Theoretical Framework                                                                                        32

2.7       Theoretical explanations of party and party system development          33       

References                                                                                                                            40       

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1       Research Design                                                                                                     46

3.2       Population of study                                                                                               46

3.3       Sample size/Sampling technique                                                                       47

3.4       Research Instrument: Questionnaire/ Interview                                           48

3.5       Validity and Reliability of instruments                                                            49

3.6     Sources of Data                                                                               49

3.7       Techniques of data analysis                                                                                49       

References                                                                                                                            51

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND

 INTERPRETATION

4.1       Introduction                                                                                                            52

4.2       Data presentation                                                                                                  52

4.3       Test of Hypotheses                                                                                     68       

4.4     Interview Analysis                                                                         77

References                                                                                                                            81

CHAPTER FIVE: FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

5.1       Introduction                                                                                                            82

5.2       Summary and Discussions of findings                                                             82       

5.3       Recommendations                                                                                                 87

5.4       Conclusions                                                                                                             89

References                                                                                                                            90

Bibliography                                                                                                                        91

Appendix A: Questionnaires                                                                                           100

Appendix B:  Interview Schedule (Guide)                                                                   104    

Appendix C:  List of Political Parties                                                                            107    

Appendix D:  Statistical                                                                                                   111

LIST OF TABLES

Table No:                             Title                                                                                       Page

3.1                   Edo State:  Population and Sample Size by Senatorial

                        Districts and Local Government Areas                                                47

4.2.1               Distribution of Respondents by Sex                                                      53

4.2.2               Distribution of Respondents by Marital Status                                  53

4.2.3               Distribution of Respondents by Age Group                                        54

4.2.4               Distribution of Respondents by Educational Level                           54

4.2.5               Distribution of Respondents by Occupation                                       55

4.2.6               Belong to any of the Political Party                                                       55

4.2.7               Which Part?                                                                                                 56

4.2.8               Presidential System and Strong and Vibrant

Opposition Parties in Nigeria                                                                 56

4.2.9               INEC and Strong and Vibrant Parties in Nigeria                              57

4.2.10             Funding of Political Parties by Government and

                        Strong and Well Organized Parties in Nigeria                                   58

4.2.11             Organizational Structure of Nigerian Political

Parties is poor or ineffective                                                                   58

4.2.12              Cordial Relationship between and Among Nigerian

Political Parties                                                                                            59

4.2.13             Level playing Field for Nigerian Political Parties                              59

4.2.14             Nigerian Parties are Legitimate and well Disposed

                        Towards the Citizenry                                                                              60

4.2.15             Ethnicity and Political Parties and Party System

                        Development in Nigeria                                                                           60       

4.2.16             Increase in Number of Political Parties and Quality

and Outcomes of Elections in Nigeria                                                  61

4.2.17             High Institutionalization of Political Parties and

                        Party System in Nigeria                                                                           61       

4.2.18             Nigerian Parties and Ideology                                                                62       

4.2.19             Internal Democracy within Nigerian Political Parties                     62       

4.2.20             Nigerian Parties are Issue or Programme Driven Based                 63       

4.2.21             Political Parties in Nigeria are Elite/Patron Based                            63       

4.2.22             Party Discipline and Nigerian Political Parties                                 64       

4.2.23             Multi-Party System and the Nigerian State                                        64       

4.2.24             Two-Party System and the Nigerian State                                          65

4.2.25             Simple Plurality (FPTP) Electoral System and the

Nigerian State                                                                                             65

4.2.26             Proportional Representation and the Nigerian State                       66       

4.2.27             Appointment of INEC Chairman and the President

of Nigeria                                                                                                     66       

4.2.28             Election Petition Tribunal and the Nigerian Presidency                 67       

ABSTRACT

This study examines, investigates, and surveys opinion of Nigerians on some of the factors that influence party and party system development in Nigeria, using data elicited from the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State, Nigeria.  The exercise was embarked upon against the background of widespread desire of Nigerians for the country to attain the highest height of party politics.  To be sure, Nigerians have been clamouring for the country to evolve, organize and develop viable political parties that will aid the democratization process.  The question raised has been whether the political attitudes and predispositions of the Nigerian public are supportive or antagonistic to the identified factors influencing and shaping party and party system development in Nigeria.       

The stratified random sampling was used to select the respondents or sample of 1,200 Nigerians, from Edo-North, Edo-Central, and Edo-South Senatorial Districts of Edo State.  The measurement instruments were the structured questionnaire and in-depth interview, designed to enable the researcher get at the trend of party development in Nigeria.  The data collected were analyzed with the aid of simple percentage, and the chi-square and Yule’s Q to test and determine

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