Internal party democracy and democratic norm-setting in West Africa: A comparative analysis of Nigeria’s PDP and Ghana’s NDC, 2011 –2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65221/0209Keywords:
Internal party democracy, political parties, electoral participation, democratic norm-setting, democratic consolidation theoryAbstract
This study examines the internal operations of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ghana from 2011 to 2025, assessing their impact on democratic norms in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Grounded in democratic consolidation theory, the research explores how party structures shape political culture and institutional legitimacy. Using a qualitative research approach, data were drawn from semi-structured interviews and electoral commission reports, and analyzed thematically. Findings show that internal party governance significantly affects national democratic health and regional influence. The PDP demonstrates persistent centralization, elite dominance in candidate selection, over 600 pre-election litigations in 2023, low female representation (below 10%), and declining voter turnout (69% in 1999 to 27% in 2023). In contrast, the NDC has institutionalized participatory mechanisms, codified dispute resolution processes, and increased female candidacy (above 15% by 2020). These differences shape regional standing: Nigeria’s internal party instability has weakened its ECOWAS mediation credibility, while Ghana’s stable party system has strengthened its diplomatic reputation. The study recommends transparent candidate selection rules, periodic constitutional reforms, and regional guidelines on internal party democracy, peer review mechanisms, and linking party support to measurable democratic reforms.
References
Accord (2022). Political reforms and implications for democracy and instability in west Africa: The way forward for ECOWAS and member states. https://www.accord.org.
Aldrich JH (1995). Why parties? The origin and transformation of political parties in America. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press
Afrobarometer (2021). Summary of Round 8 survey findings: Ghana. https://www.afrobarometer.org
Afrobarometer (2022). Round 9 survey data: Public trust in electoral institutions in West Africa. https://www.afrobarometer.org
Alemika EO, Chukwuma I (2013). State, Political Parties, and Electoral Violence in Nigeria. African Journal of Political Science 18(2):45-59.
Ayee JRA (2019). Political parties and democratic consolidation in Ghana. South African Journal of Political Studies 46(2):157-175.
Beetham D (1999). Democracy and human rights. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Braun V, Clarke V (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3(2):77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) (2023). Post-election review report. Abuja.
CODEO (2020). Election observation report: Ghana’s 2020 general elections. Accra.
Coleman JS (1958). Nigeria: Background to nationalism. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Diamond L (2020). Nigeria's democratic struggle: Leadership and the struggle for good governance. Yale University Press.
Diamond L (1999). Developing democracy: Toward consolidation. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission (2023). Annual Report on Peace and Security in West Africa. Abuja: ECOWAS Peace and Security Directorate.
Electoral Commission of Ghana (2020). 2020 presidential and parliamentary election report. Accra: Electoral Commission.
Gyampo R (2021). Internal party democracy in Ghana: Progress, challenges and prospects. CDD-Ghana Briefing Paper.
Gyampo R, Graham E, Asare BE (2020). Political parties and democratic consolidation in Ghana's fourth republic. Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, 58(4):432-451.
Gyampo R, Graham E, Asare BE (2017). Political parties and party politics in Ghana: From the Fourth Republic to the Fifth Republic? Journal of African Elections 16(2):31-50.
Gyimah-Boadi E (2021). Ghana: A model of democracy in West Africa. African Political Studies 9(3):105-121.
Hoffman D (2005). The Nigerian political economy: A historical overview. London: Routledge.
Ibrahim A (2022). The impact of internal party democracy on electoral outcomes: Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party. Political Research Quarterly 10(3):45-60.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (2023). Voter turnout statistics for 2023 general elections. Abuja:
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) (2020). The cost of politics in Nigeria. Stockholm: International IDEA.
Ishii K (2024). Mali’s military government is suspending political parties’ activities, state TV says Associated Press News. https://apnews.com/article/mali-politics-opposition-military-government-99261c3c984f7b16123b8c6e36a8d95d
Jaesen JT (2025). Democracy in peril: West Africa’s struggle for political stability. https://democracywatchonline.com/democracy-in-peril-west-africas-struggle-for-political-stability/
Levitsky S, Way LA (2010). Competitive authoritarianism: Hybrid regimes after the Cold War. Cambridge University Press
Linz JJ, Stepan A (1996). Problems of democratic transition and consolidation: Southern Europe, South America, and post-communist Europe. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) (2023). Compendium of pre-election cases filed in Nigerian courts. Lagos:
O’Donnell G (1996). Illusions about consolidation. Journal of Democracy 7(2):34-51.
Okeke F (2023). Party organization and leadership in Nigeria: A historical overview of the PDP and APC. Nigerian Political History Journal17(1):120-134.
Okoro C (2023). Internal party democracy and national unity in Nigeria. Nigerian Democracy Studies 15(2):58-72.
Omotola JS (2021). Political parties and internal democracy in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects. Africa Development 46(1):67-88.
Randall V, Svasand L (2002). Political parties and democratic consolidation in Africa. https://gsdrc.org/document-library/political-parties-and-democratic-consolidation-in-africa/
Scarrow S (2005). Political parties and democracy in theoretical and practical perspective. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237276084_Political_Parties_and_Democracy_in_Theoretical_and_Practical_Perspective
Schmitter PC (1986). An introduction to Southern European transitions from authoritarian rule: Italy, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. In G. O’Donnell, PC Schmitter, L. Whitehead (Editors.), Transitions from authoritarian rule: Southern Europe pp. 3-10. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Schmitter PC (1996). The influence of the international context upon the choice of national institutions and policies in neo-democracies. In L. Whitehead (Editor), The international dimensions of democratization: Europe and the Americas (pp. 26–54). Oxford University Press.
Sen A (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford University Press.
Stavridis J (2018). Democracy Isn’t perfect, but it will still prevail. Time. https://time.com/5336615/democracy-will-prevail/?utm
Stocker S, Quirk P, Scaduto D (2024). The missing piece: Political parties are critical to democracy in Africa. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/the-missing-piece-political-parties-are-critical-to-democracy-in-africa/
Whitfield L (2009). Change for a better Ghana’: Party competition, institutionalization and alternation in Ghana's 2008 elections. African Affairs 108(433):621-641.
Zakaria F (1997). The rise of illiberal democracy. Foreign Affairs 76(6): 22-43. https://doi.org/10.2307/20048274
