Religious Pluralism and Party Politics in Nigeria: The Invincible Hands of Disunity?

Abstract

 This paper examines religious pluralism and party politics against the influence of religion on political practice in Nigeria with specific reference to the country’s fourth republic. Given its religious pluralism, Nigeria presents an interesting case of the relationship between religious diversity and party politics. Nigeria is religiously pluralized, and this significantly contributes to setting the tone of party politics and political leadership, which in turn fires the embers of disunity. Consequently, the political environment in the country features fierce religious contestations that often result in a unity crisis. As a country entrapped in the vicissitudes of religious divide and party politics, it has been challenging to manage the divisions in Nigeria since the country’s return to democracy in 1999 for national integration. Pertinent questions are: Has religion and party politics fostered national unity in Nigeria? Are religious pluralism and party politics invincible hands of disunity? Is it impossible to disaggregate religion from party politics to overcome the variegated challenges of heterogeneity for national unity in Nigeria? Using the historical cum qualitative analysis method, the paper interrogates how religious diversity and party politics can be managed. The article also argues and demonstrates how religious pluralism and party politics often pave the way for separatist agitations and ethnoreligious disagreements that threaten the country’s corporate existence.