By Mariam Abeeb
The Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) has emphasised the importance of opposition politics in strengthening democratic governance, accountability and citizens’ participation in Nigeria.
The society through the Acting President , Professor Zara Kwaghe made this known at its 71st Annual Conference and Congress, which focused on the theme, “Opposition Politics in the History of Nigeria.”
In her welcome address, the society’s leadership said the theme was relevant to understanding Nigeria’s political development, particularly the role of opposition parties and political movements since independence.
According to her , opposition remains an important feature of democracy, providing alternative policy perspectives through constructive criticism, legislative engagement and public debate.
She noted that opposition political forces could promote accountability while offering citizens alternative platforms for political participation and representation.
The society said the historical study of opposition politics would deepen understanding of Nigeria’s democratic experience and political evolution.
The conference also featured the Dike Memorial Lecture, to be delivered by Professor Obwe O. Obwe, alongside plenary and parallel sessions examining various dimensions of opposition politics.
The sessions were expected to explore the political economy of opposition politics and democracy in Nigeria, women’s participation in opposition politics, and the relationship between the legislature and opposition politics, among other sub-themes.
Participants were urged to engage actively in the discussions, exchange research findings and critically examine ideas to promote a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s political history.
The society further stressed that historians had a responsibility not only to study the past but also to explain the historical processes that shaped contemporary society.
It reaffirmed its commitment to promoting historical scholarship, research, intellectual exchange and the preservation of Nigeria’s historical heritage.
She expressed hope that the conference would encourage productive deliberations, strengthen relationships among scholars and contribute to the advancement of historical studies in Nigeria and beyond.
Professor Okpeh Okpeh during the Dike Memorial lecture examined the historical development of political opposition in Africa, comparing it with Western democratic systems and highlighting the institutional and historical factors that have weakened opposition politics across the continent.
He identified fear, hopelessness and docility among citizens, alongside failures in leadership, as major factors undermining democratic accountability and effective governance in Africa.
He argued that the quality of leadership was closely linked to the quality of followership, warning that passive citizens could enable ineffective leaders to remain in power without adequate scrutiny.
The lecturer also distinguished political opposition from pressure groups, describing opposition parties as political organisations outside government that seek to gain power through elections, public persuasion, parliamentary debates and organised resistance.
Pressure groups, on the other hand, were described as organisations that seek to influence government policies without necessarily contesting elections or seeking control of state institutions.
According to him, opposition parties generally pursue broader political objectives through manifestos, while pressure groups and social movements often concentrate on specific causes or policy demands.
Examining the evolution of opposition politics in the United States, Professor Okpeh noted that the country’s democratic system had developed institutional mechanisms for political contestation and cooperation across party lines.
The lecture highlighted the period after the Second World War, when bipartisan cooperation facilitated the passage of major legislation, including the Civil Rights Act and the Clean Air Act, despite differences in party affiliation.
He described this period as one in which political actors increasingly prioritised constructive engagement and the public interest over rigid partisan positions.
However, he observed that American politics had become increasingly polarised in more recent years, particularly following the presidency of Barack Obama and through the administration of Donald Trump, with growing ideological divisions between liberals and conservatives.
Turning to Africa, Professor Okepeh identified the relatively short history of organised political parties as one of the factors responsible for the underdevelopment of opposition politics.
He noted that colonial regulations restricted the activities of political parties during their formative years, leaving African political elites with limited time to develop strong democratic institutions before independence.
He further explained that constitutional decolonisation in countries such as Nigeria and Ghana was accompanied by ethnic, religious and regional rivalries that weakened national political cohesion.
Prolonged military rule and the emergence of authoritarian one-party states were also identified as major obstacles to democratic development, as they restricted political competition, suppressed dissent and limited the growth of effective opposition movements.
He stressed that the suppression of opposition had weakened accountability and reduced opportunities for citizens to challenge government decisions through democratic processes.
Professor Okpeh raised broader questions about the relationship between political power and authority in Africa, particularly how leadership failures and passive followership reinforce one another to sustain underdevelopment.
He called for stronger democratic institutions, more active citizen participation and a political culture that encourages constructive opposition, accountability and leadership responsiveness.
He concluded that the development of effective opposition politics requires more than the existence of political parties; it also depends on informed citizens, responsible leadership and institutions capable of protecting democratic competition and dissent.
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