Successive Nigerian constitutions have always sought
to legally prevent identities such as ethnic, religion, and
regionalism from being the basis of political organisation
and contest for state power. In Kogi state, Nigeria, the
reality of the situation has been, however, far from its
outward appearance. This is because, ethnic identity
politics have not only proved to be resilient, but a in a
wave of resurgence, have fast become a common feature
in its body politics leading to incessant ethno-factionalism
and tension in the state. This article explores the linkage
between the nature of Nigerian democracy, ethnic identity
politics, and escalating ethnic tensions in Kogi State. The
central argument of this article is that, the political elites’
notion of democracy, and the prevailing political culture
of winner-takes-all, combined to exacerbate ethnic identity
politics and the ethnic tensions in Kogi state. The article
concludes that, ethno-identity politics and tensions are not
particular to Kogi state, but a culture that is inherently in
Nigerian body politics.