The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Dantalle, has highlighted the fragility of party politics in Nigeria, citing weak and factionalized structures.
“Leadership disputes are frequent as political parties’ executives at ward, local government, state, and national levels dissipate energy more in conspiring to remove their leaders than in building their parties’ structures,” Dantalle remarked.
Speaking at the African Democratic Congress Democratic Summit held at Arewa House, Kaduna, Dantalle emphasized the theme, “Solid Political Party Structure is Critical to the Sustainability of the Democratic Process.”
He underscored the essential role political parties play in modern democracy, serving as vital platforms for citizens to aggregate their interests and hold the government accountable in electoral politics.
Dantalle lamented the current state of party politics compared to the past, stating, “Today, our party politics is fragile, the structures are weak and factionalized.”
He reminisced about past eras when political parties had clear ideologies, and leaders prioritized national interest over personal gain.
Despite the current challenges, Dantalle expressed hope that Nigerian political parties would recognize the importance of building strong, solid structures to deepen democracy in the country.
He also announced IPAC’s 4-Year Strategic Plan of Action (2024–2027), aimed at strengthening political party structures, enhancing the capacity of party leaders, promoting internal democracy, and ensuring adherence to party constitutions during leadership changes and candidate nominations.
