Holy or Unholy Alliance? Political Coalition, Interest Articulation and Governance in New Democracies

Abstract

Employing qualitative content analysis and building on the submissions of coalition data theories, the study ascertains the governability and extent to which Nigeria’s ruling coalition, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is able to effectively aggregate various political interests and deliver on its campaign promises. Within mainstream studies, there is a consensus on the uphill task of labelling political parties as office, or policy seeking, exclusively. Nonetheless, the study argues, despite running on key programs of fighting corruption, countering Boko Haram and diversifying the economy, the APC fits the description of an office-seeking coalition. Although the party attracted key regional power brokers from two main opposition parties, the Congress for Progressive Change and Action Congress, and aggrieved members of the former ruling party, now main opposition the then ruling People’s Democratic Party. Shortly after it took power in 2015, the APC could not reach a consensus on the appointment of principal officers for the 8th National Assembly, as this was the practice. The maneuverings that led to the selection process, the uneasy relationship between legislature and executive, as well as attempts by leaders from coalescing parties to superimpose on the party which had adverse effects on the supremacy of Nigeria’s ruling coalition and institutionalization of partisan party politics. While conflicts of interests are not unusual in politics, its prevalence within Nigeria’s ruling coalition adversely affects the probability of the party to actualize its campaign programs, given the seeming battle for the soul of the party. However, the dissolution of the party’s National Working Committee in 2020 and the constitution of the APC Caretaker committee by President Muhammad Buhari suggests, the party is making conscious attempts to reconcile aggrieved members, register new members and retrace its steps in preparation for the 2023 general election.