Internal Party Conflict and Democratic Governance in Nigeria, 2015–2022

Political parties play a central role in democratic governance by serving as vehicles for political participation, leadership recruitment, and policy articulation. However, the functioning of political parties in Nigeria has been characterized by persistent internal conflicts that undermine party cohesion and democratic governance. This study examines the impact of internal party conflict on democratic governance in Nigeria between 2015 and 2022. The study adopts David Easton's systems theory as its analytical framework and employs an ex-post facto research design using qualitative methods. Data were obtained from secondary sources such as academic journals, books, newspapers, and official electoral reports, while participant observation served as a supplementary source of primary information. Findings reveal that the absence of internal party democracy, political opportunism, and leadership struggles are major drivers of internal party conflict in Nigeria’s major political parties, particularly the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The study further reveals that such conflicts weaken political institutions, distort governance processes, drain state resources, and undermine democratic consolidation. The paper concludes that strengthening internal party democracy and institutional discipline within political parties is essential for sustaining democratic governance in Nigeria. It recommends returning decision-making authority to party members, promoting internal discipline, and reducing judicial interference in party affairs.