Pages: (83-100 )
Abstract
The hetterogeneous character of the Nigerian state has been both exciting and problematic for politics and power calculations in Nigeria. This is especially so as ethnicity remains an influenntial factor in Nigeria's political space.Thus, etnicity is a ready-made instrument in the hands of the political elite (both ruling and non-ruling elite) to manipulate or influence the electoral machinery and the people to their advantage, not only to curry electoral favour and gain political power but alsi to retain and legitimize the power. The implication of this is huge for Nigeria's political stability as the inclination of the elite to group coherence rather than national cohesion engenders strive and conflicts of significant proportions within the polity. Therefore, this paper examined the influence of ethnicity on politics and political power in Nigeria. The study found that power ascendancy in Nigeria has been largely influenced by the forces of ethnicity which ensured that the predominant ethnic group or groups have access to power. It is concluded that competence and merit are recommended, among other things, that the government should re-engineer the democratic process to promote national cohesion and service rather than individual and group interests.
Keywords: Politics, elites, ethnicity, political power, power ascendancy,