By Ogboni Fouad Oki
What is Discipline?
Discipline is the practice of making people obey rules or standards of behaviour and punishing them when they do not.
What is Party?
A Party is a political organization whose members have similar aims and beliefs. Usually, the organization tries to get its members elected to the government of a country.
What is Party Discipline?
Party discipline means upholding the entrenched principles, rules and regulations guiding the behaviour of members of a political party.
It is the ability of a political party to get its members to support their party’s policies.
Party discipline in liberal democracies is referred to, as the control that a party has over its members.
It is a system of rules of conduct that customarily governs the behaviour of all members belonging to a party and are expected to abide by it.
Though the term has a somewhat different meaning in Marxist-Leninist political systems such as the People’s Republic of China. In this case, it refers to administrative sanctions such as fines or expulsion that the Communist Party can impose on its members for actions such as corruption or disagreeing with the Party.
It is an indispensable condition for a political organization and the most crucial condition for the fulfilment of the requirements of party programmes and rules, the resolutions of party bodies, and party morality and party organizations.
One of the organizational foundations of Political discipline is closely connected with the guiding organizational principle of democratic centralism.
The principles of party discipline are embodied in the Rules of a Political Party, which state: “Ideological and organizational unity, the monolithic quality of the ranks of the party, and the elevated, conscious discipline of all members constitute an inviolable law in the life of the Political Party.
In the Communist Party, every manifestation of factionalism and cliquishness is incompatible with the Marxist-Leninist party spirit, with continued membership in the party.
A party member is obligated to defend the Party unit, which is the chief prerequisite for party strength and power in every way possible and to observe the party arid state of discipline.
Those guilty of violating the Programme and Rules of the party, party discipline, or party morality must answer to the party. A Communist is an active, selfless fighter for the implementation of the Party and state decisions. For the party member, mere agreement with party resolutions is not enough: he is obligated to struggle and put these resolutions into practice.
The most important principles of party discipline were developed and substantiated by V. I. Lenin. “We have already enunciated our theoretical views,” he said, “on the importance of discipline and on how this concept is to be understood in the party of the working class. We defined it as Unity of action, freedom of discussion and criticism. Only such discipline is worthy of the democratic party of the advanced class.
The strength of the working class is organization. Unless the masses are organized, the proletariat is nothing. Organized, it is everything. Organization means unity of action, unity in practical operations” Lenin emphasized that iron party discipline becomes particularly important in the period of the working class armed struggle to achieve power and defend and consolidate it. The Communist Party can successfully fulfill its role as leader of the toiling masses if strong, conscious party discipline prevails and if the party’s directing centre is an authoritative body that has broad power and enjoys universal confidence among party members and the non party toiling masses.
Speaking about the reasons for the victory of the Soviet Republic over the interventionists and White Guards during 1918 – 20, Lenin particularly stressed the role of party discipline.
He wrote that “the Bolsheviks could not have retained power for 2½ months, let alone 2½ years, without the most rigorous and truly iron discipline, in our party, without the fullest and unreserved support from the entire mass of the working class, that is, the thinking, honest, devoted, and influential elements in it, capable of leading the backward strata or carrying the latter along with them”.
Party discipline does not exclude but assumes criticism and self-criticism within the party, class consciousness, and voluntary submission.
Party discipline is indissolubly linked with the ideological unity of the Party. Only conscious discipline can be truly principled. Party discipline must equally be binding on all members and the leaders.
The entrenchment of haughty morals and manners in the ranks by dividing party members into the “chosen” and the “unchosen only create groups and tendencies that infringed on the unity of the party.
Adoption of a robust Party discipline is extremely important in the struggle against antiparty groupings and tendencies and in strengthening the conscious discipline and unity of the party.
APC CONSTITUTION ON DISCIPLINE
ARTICLE 21:
DISCIPLINE OF PARTY MEMBERS
POWER TO DISCIPLINE:
Subject to the provisions of this ARTICLE and the right to Fair Hearing, the PARTY shall have power to discipline Party Members. The Power shall be exercised on behalf of the Party by the respective Executive Committee of the Party at all levels.
A. OFFENCES:
Offences against the Party shall include the following:
i) A breach of any provision of this Constitution;
ii) Anti-Party activities or any conduct, which is likely to embarrass or have adverse effect on the party or bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute;
iii) Disobedience or negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the Party;
iv) Any act of impersonation of the Party Offices or its holders;
v) Giving wrong information to any Organ of the Party or unauthorized publicity of a Party dispute without exhausting all avenues for settlement or redress within the Party;
vi) Fictionalization or creating parallel Party Organs at any level;
vii) Flouting the rules, regulations and decisions of the Party; engaging in dishonest practices, thuggery, continuously being absent from meetings to which he/she is invited without reasonable cause; carrying out anti-Party or other activities which tend to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient organization of the Party or which are inconsistent with the Aims and Objectives of the Party;
viii) Carrying arms, offensive weapons or missile at a political rally or procession, Party meetings, Party Officers or voting centres other than in pursuance of a lawful duty;
ix) Any other conduct or act prohibited by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, Electoral Guidelines or which by the Rules and Regulations of the Party, constitutes an offence;
x) Filing an action in a Court of Law against the Party or any of its Officers on any matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the Party without first exhausting all avenues for redress provided for in this Constitution;
xi) In cases of alteration of Delegate lists, falsification of nomination results, and or tampering with the processes of internal democracy of the Party, the offender shall be liable to expulsion from the Party and be prosecuted.
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B. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE
The Procedure for the hearing and determination of complaints or allegations are as follows:
i) A complaint by any Member of the Party against a Public Office holder, elected or appointed, or another member or against a Party organ or officer of the Party shall be submitted to the Executive Committee of that Party at all levels concerned which shall NOT LATER THAN 7 days of the receipt of the complaint, appoint a fact-finding or Disciplinary Committee to examine the matter.
ii) The Executive Committee concerned shall not debate or discuss the complaintor allegation before sending it to the Disciplinary Committee or fact-finding Committee which shall hear, determine and cause its decision to be transmitted to the relevant Executive Committees of the Party concerned.
iii) The Executive Committee concerned upon receipt of the report of the fact-finding or Disciplinary Committee shall not later than 14 days thereof either ratify or reject the decision of the fact-finding or Disciplinary Committee.
iv) The Executive Committee of the Party at the level where a complaint or allegation is made shall have original jurisdiction to hear and determine such complaint or allegation provided that the assumption of jurisdiction by such Executive Committee shall not breach the rules of fair hearing.
v) Where either the complainant or the Party against whom a complaint is made, makes out a prima facie case of bias, intimidation or undue influence or likelihood of same by the Executive Committee seized with original jurisdiction to hear and determine such a matter or a member thereof or where the complaint is against a Party organ at the level, making it impracticable to appoint a fact finding or Disciplinary Committee, such complaint shall be transferred to the appropriate organ seized with appellate jurisdiction to hear and determine such matter save in the case of allegation against the principal Officer(s) in the National Executive Committee of the Party making it unjust to allow such Principal Officer(s) to participate in the appointment of a Fact-finding or Disciplinary Committee, the National Executive Committee shall exclude such Principal Officer from the entire arbitral process.
• APPEALS
The right of appeal of an aggrieved member of the Party is hereby guaranteed.
The procedure for appeals shall be as follows:
i) Where a member is not satisfied with the decision of any of the adjudicatory organs of the Party, he or she shall have the right to appeal within 7 days of the decision to the immediate appellate body in the Party as prescribed in this Constitution.
ii) An appeal shall be determined by the appropriate appellate body within 14 days from the date of receipt of the appeal by the appellate body concerned.`
iii) Where a decision or action taken by an Organ of the Party is appealed against, the decision or action shall remain in force and binding until the appeal or appeals had been determined. The decision or action shall cease to be binding if the appellate body upholds the appeal.
iv) An appeal from the decision of the Ward Executive Committee, on a complaint originating from the Ward shall lie to the Local Government Area Executive Committee and thereafter to the Local Government Area Congress which decision shall be binding on the parties.
v) An appeal from the decision of the Ward Executive Committee, as an adjudicatory body of first instance, on a complaint originating from the Ward shall lie to the Local Government Area Executive Committee and thereafter to the State Executive Committee which decision shall be binding on the parties.
vi) An appeal from the decision of the Local Government Area Executive Committee on a complaint originating from the Local Government Area Chapter shall lie to the State Executive Committee and thereafter to the Zonal Executive Committee which decision shall be binding on the Parties.
vii) An appeal from the decision of the State Executive Committee, as an adjudicatory body of first instance; on a complaint originating from the Local Government Area Chapter shall lie to the Zonal Executive Committee which decision shall be binding on the Parties.
viii) An appeal from the decision of the State Executive Committee on a complaint originating from the State shall lie to the Zonal Executive Committee and thereafter to the National Executive Committee which shall be binding on the Parties.
ix) An appeal from the decision of the Zonal Executive Committee, as an adjudicatory body of first instance, on a complaint originating from the State Chapter shall lie to the National Executive Committee and thereafter to the Board of Trustees which decision shall be binding on the parties;
x) An appeal from the decision of the National Executive Committee on a complaint originating at the National level shall lie to the Board of Trustees and thereafter to the National Convention which decision shall be binding on the parties.
• PUNISHMENT OF ERRING MEMBERS
1. The Party shall have power to impose the following sanctions on members in accordance with the nature and gravity of their offence:
2. Reprimand;
3. Censure;
4. Fine;
5. Debarment from holding Party Office;
6. Removal from Party Office;
7. Suspension from the Party;
8. Expulsion from the Party;
9. Debarment from contesting Office on the Party platform.
10. In appropriate circumstances the Party shall cause the prosecution of the Member or erstwhile member of the Party concerned.
11. Where it is proposed to expel a member of the Executive Committee, political office holder, or a member of a Legislative House from membership of the Party, such a proposal shall be submitted to the National Executive Committee, which after deliberations on the matter may confirm or reject the proposal;
* A decision to expel a Member of the Party taken or confirmed by the National Executive Committee shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for ratification;
12. The National Executive Committee shall on receipt of the report of the fact- finding committee make a decision on the matter within fourteen (14) days;
13. Any member who files an action in court of law against the Party or any of its officers on any matter or matters relating to the discharge of the duties of the Party without first exhausting the avenues for redress provided for in this Constitution shall automatically stand expelled from the Party on filing such action and no appeal against expulsion as stipulated in this Clause shall be entertained until the withdrawal of the action from Court by the Member;
14. Each organ of the Party shall have power to remove a Party officer or officers as the case may be from office at that level for failing to discharge his/her responsibilities, neglect and dereliction of duty or misconduct during his tenure of office through a vote of no confidence passed against such officer/officers by a two-thirds majority of the members of the appropriate organ and voting subject to such officer’s right to fair hearing.
• INDISCIPLINE IN POLITICAL PARTIES
BANE OF DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION
AND GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA
Indiscipline in political parties is antithetic to democratic consolidation and good governance in Nigeria.
This lecture looks at the reasons and provides examples of actions of indiscipline in political parties in Nigeria and recommends that: the party must be superior to all its members, funding of the party should never be on individualistic principles, the party constitution must be strictly adhered to;
the principles of democracy should be embraced by the parties and its elders; and above all, proper party education must be given to all the members of the party.
urgent and prompt steps must be taken to check the ugly trends of indiscipline in political parties in Nigeria in order to prevent the truncation of the democratic process by the military as before.
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INDISCIPLINE
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English “Indiscipline is a lack of control in the behaviour of a group of people” (Hornby, 2000:610). Therefore, party indiscipline refers to the violation of the entrenched fundamental principles, rules and regulations guiding the conduct or behaviour of every member of a political party at all times. And any deviation from these principles, rules and regulations ought to be punished accordingly, irrespective of whoever is involved.
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PARTY CONTROL
The word control means power or authority to direct, order or restrain members of a collectivity, so that they can be, become, or cause to be under authority, restrain, in order, and work properly (Hornby 1974:188).
Therefore, party control refers to the means of regulating, restraining, keeping in check and in order, members of a political party at all times, so that the goals of the party can be realized. Effective party control refers to a situation where the party has absolute control over its members, and members obey and adhere strictly to the party principles, rules and regulations. But unfortunately, this does not exist in political parties in Nigeria at least for now.
Reasons and Examples of Indiscipline in Political Parties in Nigeria
Party discipline is expected to be a very potent instrument of party control, and an effective and efficient party control will ultimately lead to good governance and development in the country. Unfortunately, and regrettably, too, party control of its members in Nigeria can be likened to a situation where party power and authority have been lost to moneybags (this refers to corrupt and very rich politicians) who now usurp and exercise the power and authority of the political parties unilaterally or in collaboration with their cohorts.
In my personal view, party discipline does not exist in the Nigerian political party system. In fact, political parties in Nigeria do not observe party discipline, and therefore, cannot exercise party control over their members who are deviating from party norms. In place of party discipline, party indiscipline reigns supreme in the political parties in Nigeria for now, especially in the ruling party.
In Nigeria, moneybags (corrupt and rich politicians), looters of our treasury and economy are the sponsors or financiers of the political parties. Therefore, they are not only superior to the parties, but also dictates what happens in the party.
One can rightly and safely say that these money bags and financiers are bigger, stronger, superior and have more power and authority than the political party they belong to. Examples of party indiscipline and lack of party control are pervasive throughout Nigeria.
Let us look at only five recent examples of indiscipline in parties.
(1) In an article titled: “I am cleaner than President Obasanjo” Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State told the President to remember that he donated N100 million to his campaign for the presidency in 1999 and that his money made him (Obasanjo) win the election. How can the party control a man who gave his hard-earned money to make the party win election? The issue of threat to life between Chief Tony Anenih and Governor Orji Uzor Kalu which was finally settled by His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin, is a function of party indiscipline because the party could not resolve and discipline its members.
(2) The prolonged crises in the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) is traceable to party indiscipline and lack of party control. The leaders of the party have been in crises with themselves over finances and positions, and have, therefore, lost their relevance as the only strong opposition party to the ruling party due to indiscipline and lack of party control of its members.
(3) The very undemocratic activities of Chris Uba and Chris Nwabueze Ngige have led to the wanton destruction of lives and properties, especially public properties in Anambra State. Unfortunately, the two of them were moving freely because of party indiscipline and lack of party control over them, until they were recently expelled from the party, after much damage have been done to democratic norms, principles, lives, properties and good governance.
(4) The disagreement between the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh and the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo led to the resignation of the former due to party indiscipline and lack of party control over the later.
(5) Party indiscipline and lack of party control earned Chief Tony Anenih a popular Nicknamed “MR. FIX IT”.
Chief Tony Anenih is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, and he believes absolutely in the undemocratic and unconstitutional process of politics and administration in Nigeria. In fact, he is an epitome of political prebendaries therefore, he can fix anything to suit his party’s interests due to indiscipline and lack of party control over him.
All these are examples of party indiscipline that are inimical to Democratic Consolidation and Good Governance in Nigeria, and therefore, urgent and prompt steps must be taken to check the ugly trends if democracy is to survive in Nigeria.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
In view of the pervasive nature of party indiscipline and lack of party control of its members in the Nigerian political party system, I honestly wish to offer the following recommendations:
(1) Party Superiority: Political parties should be absolutely superior to any individual or group of individuals. In fact, there should be proper subordination of individuals’ interests to the party’s interest.
(2) Funding: The Federal Government should properly fund political parties. Funding of political parties should not be based on individualistic principles, irrespective of the wealth of any single member of the party. The corruption and undemocratic role of party elders should be annihilated from party activities. If there is a need for members to contribute financially to party activities, such contribution should be evenly shared/spread among all the members of the party.
(3) Party Constitution: The developed party constitution, which is the embodiment of the fundamental principles, rules and regulations, that guides every member of the party, should be strictly adhered to at all times. Any person who violates the constitution should be properly sanctioned, so that justice can prevail at all times.
(4) Democracy: Democracy which is the government of the people, supported by the will of the majority should be allowed to strive in Nigeria. A situation where party elders select their children, relations and loyalists to occupy political positions or offices does not create room for good governance and democratic consolidation.
(5) Education of Party Members: The easiest person to lead is the educated mind, but very difficult to enslave.
In Nigeria, most political office holders have not seen the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; they do not know whether their party’s Constitution exists; neither can they recite their party’s manifesto.
Therefore, every political party must endeavour to give proper education along this line to its members, so that they can understand the concept of Espirit De Corps and work in unison to achieve the goals of their parties and by extension enhance the welfare of Nigerians.
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CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it must be emphasized that the various political parties that had existed in Nigeria, have failed Nigeria and Nigerians, because they embraced corruption wholesale through party indiscipline, and allowed corruption to reign supreme in the country.
The consequences of their corrupt practices have resulted in the dehumanization of Nigerians, to the extent that the greatest number of Nigerians now live far below the poverty line of $1 per day, despite all the mineral resources endowed on the nation by Divine Providence. Therefore, party discipline as an instrument of party control is a condition sine qua non for the success of any political party.
A political party that has disciplined and well control members will be much more focused and goal-oriented, and therefore, will be able to implement its manifesto which will bring about improvement in the living standard of the citizens, and by extension, good governance and development will be prevalent in the country.
Finally, it is my submission that urgent and prompt steps must be taken by all the stakeholders in Nigerian politics and administration to check the ugly trends of indiscipline and corruption in political parties in Nigeria in order to prevent the truncation of the democratic process by the military as before.
Thank You
