Mister – The Missing Republic and National Integration in Nigeria

The paper identifies the relevance of party system in the third republic to national integration in a multi-ethnic Nigerian state and also, it identifies the implications of the transition (annulment) on the fourth republic. The study made use of secondary source of data in achieving its objectives. The study reveals that in a multi-ethnic state, like Nigeria, where ethnic group maintained geographical location and a distinct culture, language and quest for power (cultural, political, economic, etc.), political parties should be left to operate on democratic principle. The study further revealed that the annulment of the transition election and the consequent crises reveals the significance of ethnic identities to the issues of national integration in Nigeria. The paper concludes that democracy can be used to quench the fire of ethnic sentiment in Nigeria if the rules are obeyed and kept.