(I) The desire to ensure that they totally eliminate the political party or group they unlawfully overthrew from power.
(ii) The fear that when a group that is opposed to them comes to power, they may reverse the very reasons or principles which made them stage the coup.
(iii) When they taste political power and realise that it is sweet with all the privileges that go with it, they find it difficult to go back to the barracks.
(iv) Having overthrown a government, they also become stained with the very vices they wish to wipe out. They have the fear of being prosecuted for it, therefore they stay on in power
(v) Some of the soldiers begin to feel that they are better administrators than their civilian counterparts and so would want to stay on in power.
(vi) They consider themselves as social-political and economic Saviour. They wish to continue in power until they are able to uproot all the social vices in the state
(vii) The support from civilians who benefit from military administration.
(viii) Recognition given to military government by other countries.
(ix) The inordinate ambition to remain in power for life by some military Heads of State.
(x) Due to the possession of instruments of coercion and force
(xi) Disunity among civilian politicians who could not offer effective opposition and create hatred and disaffection to military rule.