Winner-Takes-All Politics and Democratic Instability in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Critical Reappraisal

Authors

  • Itojong Anthony AYAMBA Department of Public Administration, University of Calabar, Calabar- Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1226-317X
  • Otu Offiong DUKE Department of Public Administration, University of Calabar, Calabar- Nigeria
  • Inna Frank OGBISE Department of Political Science, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
  • Ntuk Joe NTUK Department of Public Administration, University of Uyo, Uyo- Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5513-7201

Keywords:

Conflict, Democracy, Elections, Politics, Winner-takes-all

Abstract

This study interrogates the implications of winner-takes-all politics for democratic stability in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. Relying on a qualitative analysis of political developments from 1999 to 2023, it contends that Nigeria’s political system, structured around zero-sum electoral contests, fosters exclusion, heightens inter-group animosity, and undermines democratic consolidation. Drawing on elite theory and supported by documented cases of power centralization, executive-legislative friction, and electoral violence, the paper demonstrates that the current framework sustains political volatility and erodes citizen trust. The study advocates a shift toward inclusive governance through electoral and constitutional reforms that promote power-sharing and participatory democracy.

Keywords: Conflict, Democracy, Elections, Politics, Winner-takes-all

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Published

2025-05-28

How to Cite

AYAMBA, I. A., DUKE, O. O., OGBISE, I. F., & NTUK, N. J. (2025). Winner-Takes-All Politics and Democratic Instability in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: A Critical Reappraisal . Journal of Public Administration, Policy and Governance Research, 3(2), 112–122. Retrieved from https://jpapgr.com/index.php/research/article/view/206

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Public Administration, Policy and Governance Research (JPAPGR)

Section

Articles