MONEY POLITICS AND LEADERSHIP RECYCLING AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

This paper explores the issues of money politics and leadership recycling in Nigeria, highlighting how money has contributed to leadership recycling. The study employed a secondary method of data collection, supplemented by the researcher’s personal observations. The secondary data was gathered from various sources, including textbooks, journals, and newspaper publications. Findings from the research indicate that money politics have deeply infiltrated Nigeria's political landscape, making it exceedingly challenging for individuals who have not engaged in corrupt practices to finance elections and electoral processes effectively. This situation has resulted in the continuous recycling of older leadership, primarily due to the significant financial investments required in Nigeria's political arena. The study recommends that for Nigeria to progress beyond this cycle, the populace must unite to establish a broad-based political party free from tribal and religious sentiments. This new political party should aim to displace money politics by setting the cost of expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidential office to amount that will be affordable.