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POLITICAL PARTY, PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA

: The study examined the political party participation and democratic governance in Nigeria using the Osun state 2018 gubernatorial election as a case study. It also delves into how political parties mobilized people to participate in democracy, examine their roles in the 2018 Osun state gubernatorial election, and assess the challenges facing political parties in engendering participation and democratic governance. The study utilized primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected using questionnaire and oral interviews. Purposive random sampling method was employed in the selection of a total of twenty (20) party members each from the six political parties that participated in the election making a total of 120 respondents, and 20 each from identified groups of people (Market women, farmers, business operators, INEC staff, community development associations and government workers) making 120 respondents. In all, a total of two hundred and forty (240) questionnaires were administered in the three senatorial districts of the state. The results revealed that the political parties are the key actors in democratic governance. Following the investigation, it became apparent that political parties have several roles to play in engendering participation in politics as well as democratic governance. Though there have some militating factors hampering the achievement of these lofty functions among which are poor funding, government interference, poor political education, thuggry and hooliganism, violence and threat to lives. The study concluded that without viable political parties, participation in politics will continue to drop, and democratic governance will not be assured.