Political Party Conflicts in the Niger Delta and the Approaches in Managing these Conflicts by the State Security Service

Abstract

Conflicts in the Niger Delta have been occurring as far back as the pre-colonial period and the early 1960s, but political conflicts assumed a notorious dimension particularly since the fourth republic in 1999 when the region became highly mobilized thus resulting in the deaths of high-profile politicians. The focus of the research was the investigation of the various causes of intraparty and interparty conflicts in the two dominant parties in the region (the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress) and other stakeholders, exploiting the frustration aggression theory. The study showed the major causes of political party conflicts and insecurity in the Niger Delta region as selfish interest, excessive greed, lack of internal democracy, corruption and quest to remain in power by the politicians’ contesting elections, those angling for power struggle and in a quest to dominate opponents by whatever costs. The result show that the State Security Service a key member of the state security architecture) has managed political conflicts through strategic management of key actors, conflict prevention, reduction, and control through intelligence gathering, prosecution of offenders, police intervention and conflict management as well as maintaining law and order during party meetings and gatherings. In doing this, the agency adopts conflict management approaches which include invitations, inclusive mediation, arrests, investigation, and prosecution to ensure offenders are brought to justice. Successes achieved through these efforts have given confidence to citizens in the region that their safety is being prioritized by the government agency.