Sit-Tight Syndrome and Tenure Elongation in African Politics

Abstract

The post-independence politics of African countries has been dominated by the phenomenon of sit-tight African  heads of state and government who had acceeded to office by election or coup d’etat. This paper examines this recurring problem in post-independence African politics by examining its general and specific causation,  features and consequences. Building upon extant relevant literature, it presents “fresh empirical reflections  rather than major new theoretical constructs” on the sit-tight syndrome and tenure elongation as two strands of the subversion of the constitution and the political process. The paper concludes with suggestions for  transcending this major challenge to the political and economic development of Africa.