697 www.hrmars.com/journals Ethnic Politics and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria

Ethnic diversity is not peculiarly Nigerian as other climes have plural composition. Nigeria’s party history is fraught with ethnicity. This work appraises the rabid competition amongst multi-ethnic groups for power and wealth. This has culminated in mutual distrust and suspicion as well as heightened tensions with its attendant implications for democratic consolidation. The corollary of this is the recurring and perennial hydra-headed challenge it poses for Nation-building. Democratic tradition which is a sine qua non for development, cannot flourish in an ethnically conflict-ridden polity. This paper analyses the need for democratic sustenance because of its nexus with development. This is particularly imperative as the nation marches towards another democratic drive with palpable fear that ethnicity can scuttle it if not properly managed. It posits that democratic consolidation is not unattainable. The work relies on secondary source of data and concluded by making some useful recommendations