Secondus: Political parties must be ideological, not mere platforms for winning elections

Uche Secondus, the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says political parties in the country lack ideology and have become mere vehicles for election victories rather than nation-building.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the public presentation of two books authored by Ike Abonyi, Secondus lamented the hollow nature of Nigeria’s democracy and the growing disconnect between political structures and the people.

“We don’t have democracy in our country. There’s none. What we have is a platform for winning elections,” he said.

“Our country is gradually moving in the wrong direction, to a place where you can say Nigeria is on the verge or Nigeria in liquidation, presided over by Bola Tinubu.”

The former PDP chairman noted that political parties must function beyond elections and focus on long-term ideological commitments that can strengthen democratic institutions and guarantee national progress.

“I believe that until we establish proper democratic political parties, where people will stay 30 years, 40 years, 50 years, as the case may be — build, reconstruct — then the country will be in for it,” he said.

“And of course, we will leave something for the generation to learn. But as of today, we have nothing. We are just a country in the wilderness trying to look for where we can settle.”

Secondus said the weakness of political party structures is evident in their inability to act as channels of information and policy relay across the federation.

He called for the restoration of the chain of command from the ward to national level, saying it was critical for both opposition and ruling parties to play that function effectively.

“Political parties must have strong internal communication structures. What is happening in Sokoto, or what is happening in Cross River, down to the grassroots — that mechanism where information can free flow from the political party,” he said.

“Even if they are the ruling party, that is their major task. Let the president have those information, not on propaganda. That is the only way to build a party that serves the people.”

He expressed concern that the absence of deep ideological foundations and continuity within party systems has undermined democratic governance and national cohesion.

Secondus noted that without well-grounded parties anchored on ideology, Nigeria will continue to grapple with the problem of weak institutions incapable of delivering real development.

‘NIGERIA MUST RESTRUCTURE BEFORE 2025’

Also speaking at the event, Nwodo, former minister of information and ex president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said Nigeria must restructure before the 2027 elections to avoid a constitutional breakdown.

Nwodo said the current constitution was imposed by the military without the consent of Nigerians.

“The Nigerian constitution was imposed on us by a group of military men. We didn’t have a referendum or a plebiscite for it, nor did we have an elected assembly to debate and ratify it,” he said.

“Today, there is dictatorship of the political parties. Candidates are imposed on the people without transparent primaries. In some cases, no primaries take place at all.

“You cannot become a candidate without the governor’s approval in today’s Nigeria. The nomination congresses are just a matter of formality.”