500 Journal of Developing Societies 35, 4 (2019): majority of the citizenry, protect disadvantaged groups, and bring about equity in socioeconomic development (Tandon & Kak, 2007). A major obstacle to controlling corruption in Nigeria is the weak attitude of the citizenry toward participating in the government beyond voting in elections. Thus, it is difficult for the citizenry to effectively control the leadership and to ensure transparency and accountability in policymaking
and policy implementation Dike, 2011).
5. Lack of genuine commitment to creating a national political community and national social and cultural norms The absence of a cohesive national political community and national social and cultural norms resulting in loyalty to the national community and patriotism to the country is among the factors fueling corruption in the ethnically divided Nigerian political system (Bassey, 2011).
Adebayo (1999) characterizes interethnic relations in Nigeria as cohabitation without marriage while Ifidon (1996) contends that Nigerian citizenship is merely geographical, and lacks any national ideological content.
6. the influence of the extended family system and the ostentatious lifestyle of the higher public officials In most African countries, including Nigeria, because of the importance
of extended family ties, individuals have promoted nepotism in public employment to cater for the needs and welfare of family members at the expense of others. This factor places undue pressure on the working members of families to go to any length to meet the demands of their extended family members, including engaging in corrupt practices
(Bassey, 2011).
7. the high cost of financing political parties and electoral campaigns The high cost of financing political parties and elections can constrain political officeholders to illicit acquisition for future electoral contexts.
In Nigeria, the Electoral Act (2010) stipulates the ceiling of expenses by candidates and political parties for specific elective positions. The maximum limits are pegged at
₦1 billion or US (1 Nigerian naira = 0.0028 US dollars) for presidential candidates,
₦200 million (US) for governorship candidates, and
₦40 million (US) and
₦20 million (US, respectively, for Senate and House of Representatives candidates (Olorunmola, n.d.). In fact, the high cost of obtaining party nomination forms
for political offices in Journal of Developing Societies 35, 4 (2019): 493–513
Igiebor: Political Corruption in Nigeria Nigeria is one of the factors identified as responsible for corruption in the political system. For example, in the 2015 general elections, the PDP presidential forms costs
₦22 million,
senatorial seat forms costs ₦4.5 million, House of Representatives and State Assembly forms costs
₦2.5 million and ₦1.2 million, respectively, while the governorship forms were priced at
₦11 million (Oladimeji, 2014;
Premium Times, Although it has been argued that the sale of forms is a means of raising funds for the party, it has contributed to high party campaign costs and made running for elective offices almost the exclusive preserve of the rich elites while discouraging others who have the ambition but not the needed funding from doing so. In addition, people who support candidates either in purchasing nomination forms or in other aspects of their campaign, see themselves as investors who are hoping to recoup their investments with a substantial profit (Adibe, 2014; Premium Times, 2014). These unhealthy practices are undoubtedly inimical to corruption-free good governance.
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