Leadership Recruitment Process and Dearth of Good Governance in Nigeria: A Perspective of Flag Bearers Selection among Political Parties

ABSTRACT: Indisputably, entrenchment of good governance depends on good leadership. Since leaders have alot of roles to play in setting of the visions of a state, particularly in a democratic system like ours, Nigeria, therecruitment processes of the leaders must been given the appropriate assiduity and transparency it requires. Themain thrust of this study, therefore, is to examine the debacles surrounding leadership recruitment processes inNigeria which the study relates to certain factors that have devoured the processes, such as corruption, tribalism,nepotism, mediocrity and godfatherism. To achieve the objectives of the study, the study adopted descriptiveand analytical research methodology, which means that data were collected from Secondary sources such asbooks, government official documents, journals, internet materials, among others. Elite and Capture theorieswere adopted as its theoretical framework since both theories deal with ways in which tiny minority group outof the larger community outwit the larger community and directly control the affairs of the community, hence,the capture of the leadership of the community. The study finds it necessary to suggest appropriate measures toinstall good governance through diligent recruitment processes and to eliminate all forms of anti-leadershipvices, such as corruption, godfatherism, etc. The study, therefore, advocates the adoption of the “Not-TooYoung-To-Run” legislative enactment in Nigeria and total elimination of anti-recruitment vices that havebedevilled the country’s democratic system over the years in order to create a level ground for all to participatein the political process.

Keywords: Leadership, Recruitment, Recruitment Process, Good Governance, Flag Bearers Selections,Political Parties, and Nigeria.