An elder statesman, Chief Shedrach Ikwuagwu, has described as criminal and unacceptable the emergence of 91 political parties in Nigeria.

Ikwuagwu, who briefed journalists in Owerri, Imo State, said the number of political parties in Nigeria showed that the country was not ready for ‘competitive democracy’.

According to the octogenarian, no sane democracy will accommodate 91 political parties.

He noted that the development was the reason for the massive flaws in the country’s electoral system.

Ikwuagwu identified proliferation of political parties in the country as the reason why Nigeria does not have viable opposition parties.

He cited the situation in the United States of America, where Democrats and Republicans are known for their positions on national issues, as an example of a working democracy.

According to him, the proliferation of political parties in Nigeria is the reason for the lack of political party ideology among partisan politicians.

The elder statesman urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister political parties that are “insignificant”.

Ikwuagwu, who spoke about the 2019 presidential election, identified the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket as the best for the country.

On the Imo State governorship election, the octogenarian said the contest should be left for candidates from Owerri zone.

He observed that while people from Orlu zone would have governed the state for 16 years at the end of the tenure of Governor Rochas Okorocha, Okigwe zone would have governed Imo for four years, while nobody from Owerri zone would have been governor since Nigeria returned to civil rule in 1999.

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