Abstract

This study compares the power-sharing model in Nigeria with the confessional political system of Lebanon, with a primary focus on the possible relevance of confessionalism in Nigeria. With the use of extant literature and Lijphart's theory of consociationalism, this paper examines the applicability of confessionalism in Nigeria. It also assesses whether comparable power-sharing arrangements could effectively manage the intricacies of Nigeria’s heterogeneous population and promote political stability while mitigating sectarian strife. The paper concludes that Nigeria's efforts to achieve national unity may be hampered by the adoption of confessionalism. Nigeria's diversity is its greatest asset, but a confessional system poses the risk of prioritizing religious distinctions over national identity. Thus, Nigeria should respect constitutional secularism and give priority to inclusive governance methods.

Keywords: confessional system, federalism, inclusivity, power-sharing model