Nigeria is a heterogeneous society with over four hundred ethnic groups and numerous sub-ethnic nationalities.  Ethnic consciousness has been deeply entrenched in the Nigerian politics to the extent that policies initiated by government are either perceived to be for or against one ethnic group or the other. Thus, ethnicity has been elevated as powerful instrument for power acquisition Nigeria. In Nigeria politics is defined by inter-ethnic competition, resulting in zero-sum game, where the winner takes all at the detriment of rest. In the light of the foregoing, this study sets out to examine ethnic politics and its implications for the quest of Igbo nationality. It was methodically anchored on theories of pattern variables and ethnocentrism, while documentary method and content analysis were employed for data collection and analysis respectively. The study reveals that it is the interactions among the diverse ethnic groups with the political environment that produces ethnicity. Furthermore that few priviledged elites among the ruling class from the Igbo extraction have been working tirelessly to undermine the common interests of the Igbos. The ethnic platform was rather been used by these elites to gain and consolidate their political influence. This explains why   the Igbo nationality has not been able to hold a common front on national issues, present and negotiate an acceptable power positions among the comity of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria since independence. The paper argued that the sense of common identity among the Igbo is too fragile, and must be strengthened for the advancement of the group.