Abstract:
In recent times, there has been a growing public concern regarding partisan political
activities in Africa. The problem centers on the increasing polarization and divisiveness
that characterize political affiliations, often leading to a lack of accountability and
ethical governance. In many African nations, including Nigeria and Ghana, partisan
politics has become synonymous with corruption, electoral malpractices, and uncritical
support for political parties, which can compromise democratic processes and
undermine public trust in government institutions. Electoral malpractices, such as vote
buying, intimidation, and manipulation of results, have raised alarms about the integrity
of elections and the legitimacy of political leadership. Given this situation, there is a
pressing need for a reevaluation of how political engagement is approached within the
context of faith, particularly among Christian communities. This research, therefore,
explores how Christocentric worldview might address ethical issues related to partisan
politics in both Nigeria and Ghana. A desk-based research approach was used to gather
and analyze data from journal articles, Bible commentaries, books and theses. It will
present various scholarly viewpoints on the subject, followed by an exploration of
Christ’s perspective on political involvement. This paper contends that a Christocentric
worldview can provide a transformative framework for ethical political engagement,
fostering justice, servant leadership, integrity and accountability in the political
landscape of Nigeria and Ghana. The paper addresses a critical issue that is gaining
attention in African politics; namely, the negative impact of partisan divisiveness on
democratic integrity and ethical governance.
