International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ Volume 05 Issue 22 November 2018 Institutional Perspective: Legislative-Executive Relations Under Nigeria’s Democratic Dispensation **1Okpe, Victor Vincent & Shamsuddin L. Taya [email protected] Universiti Utara Malaysia [email protected] Universiti Utara Malasia Abstract Key Words: Democracy, executive- The emergence of the All Progressive legislative relations, National Assembly, Congress (APC) government at the 2015 general election in Nigeria became the first Nigerian presidency time since the return of democracy in 1999 any opposition party would exercise control over the federal government. The victory Introduction was great as it controls the executive with st the presidency and having the highest In the 21 century democratic dispensation, members of the national assembly at the same time. However, not long after the new the interrelationship between the legislature government was sworn in, troubles began to shoot in revealing the party’s lack of and the executive arm of the government cohesion and organization. This situation revealed absence of policy cohesion between under a presidential system cannot be kept the legislature and the executive. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relations in introversion, particularly in countries such between the legislature and the executive under the APC 2015 led administration. It is as Nigeria, United States, Brazil and South divided into several parts. These included: legislative-executive relations under the Africa among others. With a particular focus APC government and cases of legislative- executive clash under APC administration. on Nigeria, Nigeria is a federal republic in The study relied on qualitative research and Institutional Theory. Data were generated the West African region, with about 200m from both primary and secondary sources. Upon conclusion, the study revealed that people (National Bureau of Statistics, 2015). internal crisis, rancor and differences that featured the emergence of the principal It shares border with Cameroon and Chad in leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate was the genesis of the seed of the east, Benin Republic in the west, and the disunity between the party, the legislature and the executive. Niger Republic in the north. Nigeria has 36 states, with its federal capital territory in Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ P a g e | 828 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ Volume 05 Issue 22 November 2018 Abuja (Adeyemi, 2018). According to other political parties will control the federal Adeyemi (2018), Nigeria has enjoyed 19 government. The victory was absolute, years of uninterrupted democratic stability having the majority at both the senate and since May 29, 1999 to date, after a the house of representative and with the lengthened period of military reign and executive president, all at the same time occupation of the nation’s political system, (Ojibara, 2017). which lasted for almost 16 years between With regards to the above political (1983-1999). scenario, the new party APC haven wrestled Furthermore, since the return of the power from the then ruling party (PDP), and country to a democratic rule in 1999, the having the majority of the members of both Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ruled the national assemblies, the objective of this the country for absolute 16years without article is therefore, to examine and analyze power interruption. However, the 2015 the interrelationship between the National general election in the country, threw up a Assembly and the Executive arm of the surprised outcome by wrestling power from government since the emergence of the APC the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and administration in Nigeria. The aticle makes leading to the emergence of the All use of qualitative research approach, as well Progressive Congress (APC) both at the as Institutional Theory. Data shall be federal and with a good number of states at generated via both primary and secondary the regional level (Ojibara, 2017). The sources and it is structured as thus, the emergence of APC at the 2015 general introduction, conceptual clarification and elections, since 1999, was the first time any review of relevant literatures, theoretical Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ P a g e | 829 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ Volume 05 Issue 22 November 2018 framework, functions of the legislature, the the interaction between these two political executive functions, and the relationship institutions. In addition to this, Lijphat between the organs, challenges, conclusion (2004) debated that the constitutional and then recommendations. powers embedded in the legislature and the executive are significant because they define Conceptual Overview and Review a far-reaching framework for of Important Literatures communication between the two powers. Legislative-Executive Relations Also, institutionalized rules are According to Aiyede and Isumonah (2002), progressively becoming significant in the significance of interaction between the regulating the conduct of the political actors, legislature and the executive in any and most especially in Africa (Posner & democratic dispensation can only come to Young, 2007). play in an arena in which the political institutions, especially the legislature and the Furthermore, constructive interaction executive, are functional and relate in a between the legislature and the executive manner that strengthens confidence in the arms of the government are vital to the government. In a closer dimension, Kopecky effective maintenance of the rule of law and (2004) observed that the relationship the constitution as a whole (Holme, 2007). between the executive and the legislature is However, in recent years, the character of one of the major defining features of the this interaction has significantly changed, functioning of any political system. He both because of the wider societal changes further explained the significant place that and changes in governance. With regards to legal and structural factors hold in shaping this, various authorities have been Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ P a g e | 830 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ Volume 05 Issue 22 November 2018 expressing a broad variety of opinions on operation of government. The role of the the legislative-executive relations, about legislature in any society cannot be over cooperation and conflict, either one or the stressed and in view of this, Bernick and other dominates the other, and either Bernick (2008) observed the legislature as liabilities or benefits result from either. the people’s branch with a significant While some view loggerhead between the objective of articulating and expressing the legislature and the executive as a beneficial collective will of the populace. As an organ and necessary requirement to limit and of the government, it stands as the platform control the government (Aiyede, 2005), for the representation of the people (Taiwo others see it as a contributing congestion & Fajingbesi, 2004). Closely, according to over major public policy decisions, hence Anyaegbunam (2000), he sensed the making government unproductive (Dulani & legislature as occupying the significant role Donge, 2006; Mbah, 2007). of making, amending, revising, and repealing laws for the well being and The concept ‘Legislature’ advancement of the population it represents. The concept ‘legislature’ has been given Similarly, the legislature stands as an various names across countries of the world. official body often chosen by election, with It is known as the National Assembly in the constitutional power to make, repeal or Nigeria, the Parliament in Britain and the change laws, as well as represent their Congress in the United States (Heywood, constituency in the national assembly and 2007; Lafenwa, 2009). In addition, control the government. In the same vein, Heywood (2007) further observed the Okoosi-Sinbine (2010) sees the legislature legislature as a significant institution in the Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ P a g e | 831 International Journal of Research e-ISSN: 2348-6848 p-ISSN: 2348-795X Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/ijr/ Volume 05 Issue 22 November 2018 as policy influencing body, deliberative and play the role of ensuring that public services lawmaking group working to promote are fully maintained in that policy as democratic political system. He went further intended by the national assembly; third, to observe the legislature, as the First Estate coordinates the activities of various of the Realm, site of sovereignty, the realm departments of the state. In view of this, of representation, and the expression of the Puke (2007) sensed the executive as being will of the populace. Considering the trend responsible for availing good and in the analysis, it appears that the authority responsible governance for the country. In of the legislature is gotten from the populace addition, Edosa and azelama (1995) in their and should be exercised in the interest of the understanding, observed the executive as the populace. vital organ of government responsible for the implementation