Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal of Political Science

The Dynamics of Party Politics and Electoral Competition in the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria

Danladi ALIYU — 2026-08-03

The 2019 General Elections was the first to be conducted after the All Progressives Congress came to power. This paper reviews the role of political parties in the 2019 General Elections. The objective is to examine how the conducts of the parties served to further consolidate or undermine the conduct of the elections. Through a qualitative research design and thematic content analysis, the paper utilizes ‘weak institutional approach’ to pursue its objective. The paper finds that there has been some level of appreciable progress in the areas electoral reforms resulting in competitive elections and improved citizens’ consciousness, as a result of appreciable trust in the electoral process. However, the paper further established that these seeming progresses have been diminished by the overwhelming display of wanton disrespect for democratic ethos through the stifling of internal party democracy, monetization of the electoral process, poor campaign messages and the rise of hate speech and disinformation. The paper recommends among others, the establishment of Political Party Monitoring Commission in line with the recommendation of the Uwais Electoral Reform Committee.

Integrating State-Supported Vigilante Armed Services into Nigeria’s Emerging State Police Architecture: Prospects, Challenges and Strategic Pathways

Charles Sokomba AKALE — 2026-08-03

Nigeria’s internal security environment has undergone profound transformation over the past decade, characterized by insurgency, rural banditry, kidnapping-for-ransom, communal conflicts, farmer-herder violence and violent separatist agitations. The inability of the centralized policing framework to respond effectively to localized threats has led to the proliferation of state-backed vigilante organizations across various geopolitical zones. This development has intensified calls for the establishment of state police. However, the potential creation of state police raises critical questions regarding the institutional future of these vigilante structures. Should they remain parallel actors or be integrated into formal subnational policing systems? This paper examines the prospects, challenges, and strategic pathways for integrating state-supported vigilante armed services into Nigeria’s evolving state police architecture. Drawing on institutional theory and hybrid security governance theory, it contends that integration offers strategic advantages in intelligence generation, local legitimacy, and operational speed, but also entails substantial risks of politicization, abuse, and fragmented authority. Through comparative analysis of Kenya, South Africa, and India, the study identifies lessons for Nigeria’s evolving security federalism. The paper proposes a phased integration model anchored in constitutional reform, professionalization, and multi-level oversight.

Democratisation and Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Challenges and Prospects

Sunday AIDELOJE — 2026-08-03

Democratisation has been a defining feature of political development in Africa since the Third Wave of Democratisation, leading to the adoption of multiparty politics, constitutional reforms and regular elections across many states. Despite these developments, democratic consolidation remains constrained by weak institutions, governance deficits, political instability, insecurity and periodic democratic reversals. This study examines the challenges and prospects of democratisation and democratic consolidation in Africa. It adopts a qualitative research design based on secondary data drawn from scholarly books, peer reviewed journal articles, policy documents and institutional reports. The analysis is anchored on State Capacity Theory, which emphasises the importance of effective state institutions in sustaining democratic governance, maintaining political order and delivering public goods. The findings reveal that while Africa has recorded significant democratic progress since the 1990s, institutional weaknesses, corruption, electoral irregularities, weak rule of law and recurring military interventions continue to impede democratic consolidation. However, increasing civic engagement, constitutional reforms and growing demands for accountability present opportunities for strengthening democratic governance. The study concludes that sustainable democratic consolidation in Africa depends on enhancing state capacity through institutional reforms, effective governance, accountability, improved security and inclusive political participation.

Political censorship and Democratic consolidation in Nigeria: Examining the effects of Internet shutdowns and State repression on Freedom of speech (2015–2025)

Felix Chidozie CHIDOZIE — 2026-08-03

This study examines the relationship between political censorship and democratic consolidation in Nigeria between 2015 and 2025, with particular attention to internet shutdowns and state repression affecting freedom of speech. The study adopts a qualitative documentary research design in which secondary sources were systematically identified and screened using the PRISMA 2020 framework, yielding 83 documents drawn from peer-reviewed literature, Freedom House, Paradigm Initiative, Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Media Defence, and Nigerian government publications. The data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis and interpreted through Digital Authoritarianism Theory. Four themes emerged: internet restrictions as instruments of political control, legal repression and the criminalisation of online speech, national security as a justification for censorship, and the shrinking of digital civic space. The findings show that political censorship in Nigeria has increasingly assumed digital forms, intensifying during protests, elections, and periods of heightened criticism of government, and that these measures have encouraged self-censorship and reduced public participation. The study concludes that political censorship constitutes a significant obstacle to democratic consolidation, because restrictions on digital communication weaken citizens' capacity to participate freely in political discourse and hold public officials accountable.

Boundaries of Terror: Boko Haram attacks and Border Security Management in the Lake Chad, 2015-2025

Stephen Nnaemeka AZOM — 2026-08-03

The Lake Chad Basin, a vital socio-economic hub shared by Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger, has been transformed into a theater of protracted conflict due to the activities of Boko Haram. This paper unpacks the boundaries of terror and examines the intersection of insurgent activity and border security management in the Lake Chad between 2015 and 2025. Using a qualitative research design rooted in the "ungoverned spaces" theory, the study evaluates how the sect’s exploitation of porous borders and difficult terrain such as the Sambisa Forest and the Lake’s Tumbuns (islands) has undermined Nigeria’s state sovereignty. Findings indicate that while the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) has successfully reduced large-scale territorial holdings, the evolution of the sect into decentralised factions has sustained a climate of asymmetric terror through the use of explosive devices and suicide bombings. The paper concludes that sustainable security in the region cannot be achieved through kinetic approach alone. It recommends a shift toward integrated trans-border governance that prioritizes intelligence sharing, harmonized legal frameworks for border policing, and socio-economic stabilization to address the environmental and political grievances fueling recruitment

Connecting Skills to Success: Exploring Manpower Development and Service Delivery in Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information

Chidozie B. OBIORAH — 2026-08-03

This study examined manpower development and service delivery in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information from 2020-2024. It focused on the relationship between staff training and citizen satisfaction, the impact of career advancement on cost-effectiveness, and whether employee retention improved project success. Utilizing Human Capital Theory and a causal research design, the study surveyed a population of 335 using a Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed data with chi-square tests. Findings revealed a significant relationship between training programs and citizen satisfaction, demonstrated that career advancement opportunities enhanced cost-effectiveness, and confirmed that employee retention positively influenced project success. The study recommends that the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information and similar public institutions maintain regular staff training, strengthen career advancement pathways, and implement effective employee retention strategies to foster organizational growth and project success.