Nigerian Political Institutions AP Comparative Government

Linkage Institutions (Political Parties)  Fluid and regionally and ethnically based  Like Russia and Iran Nigerian political parties are often formed around powerful charismatic leaders  PDP (People’s Democratic Party) – long standing party of Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’ Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan, has run candidates from the north and south who were Christian and Muslim  APC (All Progressive Congress) –formed only two years ago is the party of the newly elected Muhammadu Buhari 

2015 Election Map Results  Identify one trend you notice with the map.

Linkage Institutions (Elections)  INEC (Independent National Election Commission) –Headed by Attahiru Jega who was praised in the 2011 and 2015 election for overseeing a cleaner election but has also been accused on corruption in the 2003 election for excluding a major candidate.  Elections are held at: Local, state and national (President, Representative and Senator) level  2 round cycle. Candidate must win with majority of vote not to go to a 2 nd round. Goodluck Jonathan did this is  President has to receive 25% of the vote in 2/3 of the states of Nigeria or in 24 states. Why do you think this is important?

Linkage Institutions (Elections)  Senate has 109 members (3 per state and one from Abuja)chosen through a direct popular vote.  360 Representatives elected from single members districts by plurality vote. Both the HOR and Senate support regional representation.  Corruption in elections has been noted to be reduced in the past two presidential elections and the transition to power in most recent election without violent outbreak is substantial

Linkage Institutions (Interest Groups)  There has been a pretty strong civil society in Nigeria though interest were limited under many military dictator like IBB (Babaginda)  Labor unions are strong though at times has been limited through state corporatism. An example is the Nigeria Labor Congress – protested the governments increase in fuel prices and taxes  What is state corporatism?  Business interest often associate with the military. But there are emerging interest in manufacturing, car rental and butchering businesses.  Human rights interest academics and professionals who advocate for democratic reform and MOSOP for environmental justiceMOSOP

Linkage Institutions (Media)  Very independent and long-standing media in the south and growing in the north  Like Bollywood in India there is Nollywood in Nigeria. Second largest film industry in the world after India.

Political Structures (Executive)  Modeled after the U.S. political structure  President is the head of government and head of state.  May serve 2 up to two terms. The presidential term is 4 year.  Under the historical military regimes there was always the promise of returning the government to democracy.  Bureaucracy was created under British colony. Exists to this day.  Jobs are received through patron-clientalism (prebendalism)  Bribery (dash) is common.  Para-statals- corporations owned by the state (Provide water, electricity, public transportation)

Political Structures (Legislative)  National Assembly (name of their Congress)  Bicameral House of Representatives and Senate  Senators and Representatives serve 4 year renewable terms  Elections are held for these positions a week before the presidential elections  Women are not represented proportionally in the HOR or Senate. In 2011 there were only 13 out of 360 women in the HOR and 4 out of 109 in the Senate.  Legislature under the military dictatorships had little power, but have increased in power under the presidential regime. An example would be not passing the Obasanjo’s plan to allow him to change the Constitution to serve a 3 rd term in 2007.

Political Structures (Judiciary)  15 justices on Supreme Court nominated by president confirmed by Senate  They are drawn from major regions to ensure fairness. Must retire by 70.  Judicial review exists in theory  They work under common law. Why do you think?  The courts have to negotiate between national courts (Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals) and local courts, particularly the sharia courts.

Political Structures (Military)  Military is the most national in power.  It has brought stability and order when there were threats to country like Boko Haram. Though they have yet to maintain this force.