Integrity Journal of Arts and Humanities

This research is on the fundamental role that political parties play as regard to their entrenchment of democratic tenets in Nigeria. It examines the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as one of the dominant political platforms that emerged at the inception of the Fourth Republic. The study concentrates on the first eight years (mandate) of the party in office to examine the posture of the PDP at this crucial stage of the country’s return to civil rule. It is vital against the backdrop of disappointment being expressed by the citizenry about the roles of political parties in Nigeria, especially on the serious decline in attaining good governance. The situation has left many citizens in a state of destitution and complete hopelessness in the destiny of the country. This is similar to the situation at the return to democracy in 1999 when many were not only dismissive about the transition program but had lost trust in the ruling class. The research adopts the use of primary and secondary sources with a qualitative method of data gathering and analysis. All available sources have been subjected to critical cross-examination, and the results of the work have shown that in spite of the challenges, the PDP, through its platform and activities, awakened the spirit of democratic fervour in Nigeria. However, with time, the same party led others in truncating the journey toward nurturing an enduring democracy with a myriad of undemocratic practices that posed a threat to the system in Nigeria.