Abstract
Political parties are thought to be the key component of democratic governance across the globe. The emergence of four political parties in the governance of Southeast states Nigeria after the 2023 general elections has shown significant change in the governance of the geopolitical zone. Despite the staggered governorship elections, clearly speaking they will be four political parties that will be governing five of the states from 29th May, 2023 viz for the first time: All Progressive Grand Alliance (Anambra), Labour Party (Abia), All Progressive Congress (Ebonyi and Imo) and Peoples Democratic Party (Enugu). This is a unique characteristic that only the South East Zone will showcase in Nigeria from May 29th, 2023 onwards and therefore needs to be interrogated and assessed in terms of its developmental potentials. However, research on the emergence of four political parties in Southeast Nigeria's 2023 government is currently lacking. This study relies on the documentary approach for data collecting and the group theory as its analytical framework. The study posits that political parties are built through their manifestoes and personal attributes of the governors also influences the direction of development that will necessarily follow in these states. The study found that the spirit of competition among the political parties in Southeast states if properly managed will enhance development in the zone as already shown in the building of Airports in Anambra and Ebonyi States as well as the construction of Flyover bridges in major roads in the zone. The study concludes that if not properly manage the multiple political parties can divide the region rather than building integrated Southeast, Nigeria. Therefore, the paper renews call for political leaders to partner together in the nature of Igboness for the integration and development of Southeast.