Intra and inter party-conflicts: Implications for good governance in the Niger Delta Region

Abstract

The return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999 has been with mixed blessing for many Nigerians, but for the Niger Deltans, it is blurred and full of uncertainties. Evidence abound that other regions of the country have witnessed a robust and boisterous political participation with some level of democratic dividend. These regions have allowed free choice of individuals to belong to any party and this has given them some variegated benefits. Contrary to this, in Niger Delta Region, the story is different; participants and politician have been initiated to belong to a party because of the selfish drive of some few and plausibly due to late entry into partisan politics by many from the region. The paper tries to explore that the beauty of any liberal democracy and good governance, lies in the active inter and intra party conflicts. It goes further to suggest that only good governance through participation in such party conflicts can true real dividend of democratic participation accrue to the Niger Delta people.