Title Page – – – – – – – – – – -i Approval page – – – – – – – – – – -ii Dedication – – – – – – – – – – iii Acknowledgement – – – – – – – – – -iv Abstract – – – – – – – – – – v Table of Content – – – – – – – – – -vi

Chapter ONE

: 1.1 INTRODUCTION – – – – – – – – -1 1.2 Statement of the problem – – – – – – – – 5 1.3 Objective of the study – – – – – – – – -9 1.4 Significance of the study – – – – – – – – 10 1.5 Literature review – – – – – – – – 11 1.6 Theoretical Framework – – – – – – – – -34 1.7 Hypothesis – – – – – – – – – -37 1.8 Method Data Collection – – – – – – – – -38 1.9 Method Data Analysis – – – – – – – – -38

Chapter TWO

:NIGERIAN POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEMOCRACY. 2.1 The theory of Democracy – – – – – – – -46 2.2 The PDP and Democracy – – – – – – – – -51

Chapter THREE

:THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY THE RULE OF LAW AND THE 2007 GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY ELECTION IN RIVERS STATE 3.1 Historical Foundation and Development of the people’s Democratic Party (PDP) -54 3.2 Political Parties and Internal Elections – – – – – – -56 3.3 Candidate’s Selection process in the PDP – – – – – -57 3.4 The Rule of Law and the -2007 Gubernatorial primary Election in Rivers state -60

Chapter FOUR

: THE STRUCTURE OF THE PDP AND INTERNAL PARTY DEMURELY IN NIGERIA 4.1 Internal Party Democracy and its Requirement – – – – – -66 4.2 Internal Party Democracy and Oligarchy – – – – – – -69 4.3 Argument for Internal Party Democracy – – – – – – -71 4.4 Promotion of Internal Democracy in Political Parties – – – – -73

Chapter FIVE

: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Summary – – – – – – – – – – -78 5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – – – -79 5.3 Recommendation – – – – – – – – – -81 Bibliography – – – – – – – — – – -83