THE PURSUIT OF MATERIAL INTEREST AND PROLIFERATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA, 1999─2013 (Published)
Ideology constitutes a roadmap for the operations of viable political parties in a democratic society. It is the most outstanding yardstick for differentiating amongst political parties in a multi-party democracy. The enthronement of civilian rule in May 1999 heralded the proliferation of political parties which are either ideologically sterile or indistinguishable in Nigeria. This tendency is often associated with the urge to widen the political space for democratic opportunities and development. Nonetheless, this paper argued that the multiplication of such parties in Nigeria is essentially driven by insatiable pursuit of private material interest of their members. Thus, anchoring analysis within the paradigmatic orientation of the Marxist Political Economy, the paper examined the role of private material interest on the proliferation of non-ideology-based political parties in the country. Amongst other things, the paper recommended that the formation of parties and political contestations should be defined purely by political ideology.
Keywords: Marxist Political Economy, Material Interest, Political Ideology, Political Parties