Dr. Maurice OGBONNAYA is a Research Fellow and Programme Officer, Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre (PPLPDC) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos – Nigeria. He had previously worked as Security and Policy Analyst at the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), National Assembly, Abuja-Nigeria. A Laureate of the VII South-South Institute jointly organized in 2014 by the International Development Economic Associates (IDEAs), Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) & Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) in Bangkok, Thailand, Ogbonnaya holds PhD in Political Science from University of Uyo, Uyo – Nigeria. His research interests include Security and Strategic Studies, Conflict Management, African Politics and Government, and Parliamentary Studies. He has published widely in reputable local and international journals and contributed in book chapters in these areas and presented papers in local and international seminars and conferences in Nigeria, Bangkok, Canada, Morocco, South Africa, the United States, among other places. He has also received capacity-building trainings in Public Policy Analysis, Peacekeeping and International Conflict Resolution, Legislative Practice, Election Observation, Scenario Planning some of the best training institutions within an and outside Africa; Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), Arusha-Tanzania, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Abuja – Nigeria, Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI), Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Accra – Ghana, among other places. Dr. Ogbonnaya has served as research consultant to several local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations; Partners West Africa (PWA) – Nigeria; Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Abuja; the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF); and House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, National Assembly, Abuja, Nigeria, among others.