Editorial
Political Parties And Internal Democracy
Apparently miffed by the political quagmire in Zamfara State that culminated in the sacking of the entire candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, at all levels, who supposedly won the 2019 elections in the State, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu recently advised political parties in Nigeria to help ensure smooth electoral process by respecting extant electoral rules, particularly, parties’ internal rules and procedures.
According to Mahmood, “properly conducted primaries are cardinal for the proper internal functioning of political parties and electoral process. Therefore, political parties must take seriously the conduct of their primaries, according to all extant rules, including the monitoring processes, for INEC to avoid the repeat of the Zamfara experience”.
The APC in Zamfara State had failed to meet the deadline for the submission of list of its candidates for the 2019 general elections. This was as a result of internal crisis and factions occasioned by observing party rules in the breach. Also, god-fatherism and selfish interests combined to abort the conduct of the state’s primaries as and when due. But despite fielding candidates against the stipulations of INEC, APC eventually lost out when the Supreme Court voided its candidature in the 2019 elections.
That is why we cannot but agree more with the INEC chairman on the observance of due process, rule of law and internal democracy by political parties in the conduct of their affairs. Respect for party rules and democratic practices, we believe, must be sacrosanct if the country must avoid the political hiccups that marred the race towards the 2019 general elections, especially, at party levels.
Regrettably, the Zamfara State’s episode that denied APC and its supporters the right to have an opportunity to field a candidate and be represented in the choice of who would govern or represent them in the next four years, was not the only sore thumb.
From Rivers, Imo, Ogun and many other states, attempts to suppress and abuse internal democratic practices backfired big time on one or more political parties. It was either the party lost out entirely from being on the ballot papers, or members became estranged and bicker to the eventual disadvantage of the party.
It is unfortunate that some political parties, prior to the 2019 general elections, just like in previous exercises, demonstrated tendency to pander to whims, caprice and interest of individuals rather than the overall interest, value and ideology of the party.
We think that it is time politicians begin to see the party as a vehicle to enthrone social justice, equity and good governance in the country and not a bounty to be hijacked with the motive to establish an empire and lord it over others.
Politicians must know that it behoves political parties to set the template for smooth electoral processes in the interest of the country by eschewing those conflicts that can implode and cause stakeholders to engage in desperate battle for the soul of the party and by extension, the seat of power.
Political office/authority must be seen as a call to serve. It is a responsibility that ought to be bestowed upon one or group through democratic best practices. It is a practice where through due process and respect for rules, the minority usually have their say, while the majority have their way.
The political parties should be the microcosm of the national system. Until internal democracy and due process are allowed to gain taproot in the parties, democracy in its true garb would not begin to take root in Nigeria.
Parties should ensure that no one, no matter how highly placed is allowed to be above the party, afterall, no single individual should be ceded ownership of a political party.
It is time for political parties in particular and Nigeria in general to emulate and domesticate international best democratic practices.
Now is the time to end the payment of lip service to the principles of democracy in Nigeria. While we commend the supreme court and INEC for not allowing parties to enjoy the proceeds from their heady behaviours, we believe that lessons have been learnt from the episodes in Zamfara, Rivers and other states, for posterity.
When Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, received the Board and Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), led by its Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, his message was unmistakable: Rivers’ seaports remain underutilised, and Nigeria is poorer for it. The governor’s lament was a sad reminder of how neglect and centralisation continue to choke the nation’s economic arteries.
The governor, in his remarks at Government House, Port Harcourt, expressed concern that the twin seaports — the NPA in Port Harcourt and the Onne Seaport — have not been operating at their full potential. He underscored that seaports are vital engines of national development, pointing out that no prosperous nation thrives without efficient ports and airports. His position aligns with global realities that maritime trade remains the backbone of industrial expansion and international commerce.
Indeed, the case of Rivers State is peculiar. It hosts two major ports strategically located along the Bonny River axis, yet cargo throughput has remained dismally low compared to Lagos. According to NPA’s 2023 statistics, Lagos ports (Apapa and Tin Can Island) handled over 75 per cent of Nigeria’s container traffic, while Onne managed less than 10 per cent. Such a lopsided distribution is neither efficient nor sustainable.
Governor Fubara rightly observed that the full capacity operation of Onne Port would be transformative. The area’s vast land mass and industrial potential make it ideal for ancillary businesses — warehousing, logistics, ship repair, and manufacturing. A revitalised Onne would attract investors, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth, not only in Rivers State but across the Niger Delta.
The multiplier effect cannot be overstated. The port’s expansion would boost clearing and forwarding services, strengthen local transport networks, and revitalise the moribund manufacturing sector. It would also expand opportunities for youth employment — a pressing concern in a state where unemployment reportedly hovers around 32 per cent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Yet, the challenge lies not in capacity but in policy. For years, Nigeria’s maritime economy has been suffocated by excessive centralisation. Successive governments have prioritised Lagos at the expense of other viable ports, creating a traffic nightmare and logistical bottlenecks that cost importers and exporters billions annually. The governor’s call, therefore, is a plea for fairness and pragmatism.
Making Lagos the exclusive maritime gateway is counter productive. Congestion at Tin Can Island and Apapa has become legendary — ships often wait weeks to berth, while truck queues stretch for kilometres. The result is avoidable demurrage, product delays, and business frustration. A more decentralised port system would spread economic opportunities and reduce the burden on Lagos’ overstretched infrastructure.
Importers continue to face severe difficulties clearing goods in Lagos, with bureaucratic delays and poor road networks compounding their woes. The World Bank’s Doing Business Report estimates that Nigerian ports experience average clearance times of 20 days — compared to just 5 days in neighbouring Ghana. Such inefficiency undermines competitiveness and discourages foreign investment.
Worse still, goods transported from Lagos to other regions are often lost to accidents or criminal attacks along the nation’s perilous highways. Reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps indicate that over 5,000 road crashes involving heavy-duty trucks occurred in 2023, many en route from Lagos. By contrast, activating seaports in Rivers, Warri, and Calabar would shorten cargo routes and save lives.
The economic rationale is clear: making all seaports operational will create jobs, enhance trade efficiency, and boost national revenue. It will also help diversify economic activity away from the overburdened South West, spreading prosperity more evenly across the federation.
Decentralisation is both an economic strategy and an act of national renewal. When Onne, Warri, and Calabar ports operate optimally, hinterland states benefit through increased trade and infrastructure development. The federal purse, too, gains through taxes, duties, and improved productivity.
Tin Can Island, already bursting at the seams, exemplifies the perils of over-centralisation. Ships face berthing delays, containers stack up, and port users lose valuable hours navigating chaos. The result is higher operational costs and lower competitiveness. Allowing states like Rivers to fully harness their maritime assets would reverse this trend.
Compelling all importers to use Lagos ports is an anachronistic policy that stifles innovation and local enterprise. Nigeria cannot achieve its industrial ambitions by chaining its logistics system to one congested city. The path to prosperity lies in empowering every state to develop and utilise its natural advantages — and for Rivers, that means functional seaports.
Fubara’s call should not go unheeded. The Federal Government must embrace decentralisation as a strategic necessity for national growth. Making Rivers’ seaports work is not just about reviving dormant infrastructure; it is about unlocking the full maritime potential of a nation yearning for balance, productivity, and shared prosperity.
