Manifesto/Guiding Principles of the Communist Party of Nigeria (CPN)

We, the Vanguard of the People of Nigeria,

Conscious of our historic mission to build a truly liberated and egalitarian socialist state founded on social justice, economic equality, and respect for the fundamental human rights of every Nigerian, guided by the leadership of the Nigerian people and the principles of scientific socialism.

Realizing the need to:

1. Make a fundamental and revolutionary break with the exploitative capitalist system and the legacy of neo-colonialism to realize the full potential of the Nigerian people and the nation’s resources.
2. Build a qualitatively superior society based on the principles of scientific socialism, the abolition of private ownership of the means of production, and genuine people’s power under the leadership of Nigerian citizens.

Committed to:

1. Establishing a socialist republic of Nigeria based on the genuine self-determination of all nationalities, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and power under the democratic control of the Nigerian people.
2. Resolving fundamental issues of class exploitation, uneven development, ethnic inequality (rooted in capitalist competition), and imperialist domination through socialist transformation.

Declare the following:

1. The Unity of the Nigerian People and the Socialist Transformation of the Nation:

1. We affirm our belief in the fundamental unity of the Nigerian people, transcending ethnic, religious, and regional divisions, in the common struggle against capitalist exploitation and for a socialist Nigeria. We shall continuously promote democratic solidarity, class consciousness, and revolutionary unity.
2. The Party shall champion the leading role of the Nigerian people in alliance with progressive forces in the revolutionary transformation of Nigeria. We reject conventional notions of “geo-political balancing” and advocate for the democratic control of power by the Nigerian people.
3. The Party upholds the principle of revolutionary advancement towards a classless society, where the means of production are collectively owned and democratically controlled for the benefit of all.

2. The Supremacy of the People’s Will and Socialist Legality:

We affirm our commitment to establishing a socialist legal framework that serves the interests of the Nigerian people. While critically analyzing and transforming existing laws, our ultimate allegiance lies with the revolutionary will of the people organized under the leadership of the Party. We shall strive for strict adherence to socialist principles of justice and equality. As the vanguard party, we shall operate within the framework of revolutionary legality, guided by the principles of Marxism-Leninism adapted to the Nigerian context.

3. The People’s Courts and Revolutionary Justice:

We affirm our commitment to establishing a system of people’s courts and revolutionary justice that serves the interests of the Nigerian people, ensuring swift and equitable resolution of disputes based on socialist principles and the will of the people. The independence of these courts will be guaranteed through their accountability to the Nigerian people and their elected representatives.

4. The Inviolability of the Rights of the Citizens of Nigeria:

We affirm our unwavering belief in and commitment to the fundamental rights of every citizen, as enshrined in the revolutionary principles of socialism and international democratic solidarity. We stand against all forms of exploitation, oppression, and discrimination based on class, gender, religion (while upholding the secular nature of the state), place of origin, ethnicity, race, beliefs, etc. The CPN will be the foremost defender of the rights of all working people, the unemployed, students, and other oppressed sections of society.

Directive Principles:

We shall remain unswervingly committed to:

1. Socialist democracy and grassroots rule;
2. Liberation, the rights of the Nigerian people, and human dignity rooted in social equality;
3. Social justice, economic equality, genuine popular participation, and the revolutionary rule of the Nigerian citizens;
4. Revolutionary integrity, transparency, and accountability in the conduct of the people’s affairs under the leadership of the Party;
5. Planned and sustainable development through the social ownership of the means of production and the prioritization of the needs of the Nigerian people.

Direction of Policy and Measures:

1. Political Objectives:

The fundamental political objective of the Communist Party of Nigeria is to:

1. Seize political power through constitutional means, establish a government of the people, and defend the gains of the socialist revolution against internal and external reaction.
2. Establish a socialist republic of Nigeria based on the free and equal association of all ethnic groups, fostering genuine national unity and integration based on socialist principles and respect for the self-determination of all peoples.
3. Establish a people’s government that ensures the well-being and empowerment of the citizens of Nigeria through democratic centralism and the leading role of the Party.
4. Guarantee the democratic rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people within the framework of socialist legality, ensuring the suppression of counter-revolutionary elements.
5. Promote and nurture socialist consciousness and revolutionary traditions continuously.
6. Create a political environment conducive to planned economic development for the benefit of the Nigerian people, based on social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.
7. Ensure that leadership positions in all spheres of the socialist state are held by democratically elected members of Nigerian society, committed to serving the interests of the people.

2. Governance:

The Party shall be committed to:

1. The principle of democratic centralism, ensuring both democratic participation of the Nigerian people and centralized leadership under the guidance of the Party.
2. The principles of social justice and the complete equality of all Nigerian people, regardless of their background.
3. The strengthening of a socialist republican system based on the genuine autonomy of regions within a unified planned economy.
4. The principles of revolutionary accountability and transparency of the people’s government, combating corruption and bureaucracy through mass participation and Party oversight.
5. Fostering proletarian internationalism and solidarity with the Nigerian people of all nations in the struggle against imperialism and capitalism.
6. Upholding the secular nature of the socialist state while respecting the freedom of conscience and combating religious extremism and divisive ideologies.

3. Economy:

At the root of Nigeria’s political and social problems is capitalist exploitation and the private ownership of the means of production. The fundamental objective of the CPN’s economic policy is the improvement of the well-being of the Nigerian people through the establishment of a socialist planned economy that meets the basic needs of all. The focus will be on building a socialist economy based on social ownership, democratic planning, and the abolition of exploitation.

At the very foundation of the above objective is the pursuit of a strong, self-reliant, and diversified socialist economy designed to overcome the historical backwardness caused by colonialism and capitalism through planned industrialization and the collectivization of technology. The CPN’s economic policy is centred on the working people and aims to:

1. Develop a powerful working class and a prosperous peasantry through collective ownership and the elimination of capitalist exploitation.
2. Abolish private ownership of land and establish collective ownership and democratic management of land resources.
3. Prioritize the needs of the Nigerian people through comprehensive social programs and the equitable distribution of resources.
4. Invest massively in social infrastructure (education, healthcare, and housing) under public ownership and democratic control.

The CPN aims to establish a leading socialist economy in Africa, characterized by high levels of social welfare, economic equality, and the full realization of the potential of the Nigerian people.

4. The People’s Courts and the Administration of Revolutionary Justice:

The Party shall:

Ensure the security of the lives and property of all Nigerian citizens and suppress counter-revolutionary activities.

At all times uphold and defend the revolutionary will of the Nigerian people and the principles of socialist legality.

Uphold the principle of the unity of power under the leadership of the Nigerian people and its vanguard party, while ensuring the accountability of all state organs to the people.

Uphold the independence of the people’s courts in their application of socialist law and their accountability to the Nigerian people.

Ensure the security of the lives and property of all Nigerian citizens and suppress counter-revolutionary activities.