Intra-Party Crisis and Electoral Performance in Nigeria: A Study of the Peoples Democratic Party

Abstract

Parties play a pivotal role in democratic governance, as they facilitate leadership recruitment, political mobilization, and policy formulation. Intra-party tensions have traditionally undermined party cohesion and its potential as an electoral force in Nigeria. This research examines the impact of leadership crises and candidate nomination disputes on the electoral fortunes of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election. Informed by the Intra-Group Conflict Theory, the study employed a quantitative research design, obtaining primary data from 400 respondents from six geopolitical zones via structured questionnaires. Descriptive analyses and multiple regressions were conducted to analyze the relationships of leadership crises and candidate selection disputes with electoral outcomes. The results indicate that the PDP’s robustness in terms of organizational depth, strategic coordination, and voter mobilization was seriously impaired by partisan disputes. Leadership crises further divided factions and eroded public support, though candidate selection disputes were deemed the most damaging factor for electoral performance. Collectively, these internal conflicts explained over 95% of the variance in the party’s election results, signaling the critical impacts of unresolved intra-party tensions for cohesion and competitiveness. The research highlights the importance of transparency in candidate selection, institutionalized internal democracy, and appropriate conflict resolution strategies for enhancing political party cohesion and electoral viability in Nigeria.