DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

SS 3

GOVERNMENT

FIRST TERM

LESSON NOTE SCHEME OF WORK

WEEKLY LESSON NOTE

WEEK 6

TOPIC:

DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA

1. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

2. All Nigerians People’s party (ANPP)

3. Alliance for democracy

4. Action congress (AC) and other small political parties:

a. Formation of PDP, ANPP, AD, AC, etc

b. Structural organization of PDP, ANPP, AD, AC etc

c. Sources of finance of PDP, ANPP, AD, AC etc

d. Objectives of PDP, ANPP, AD, AC etc

e. Performance of PDP, ANPP, AD, AC etc.

SUB TOPIC 1:

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

A. FORMATION OF PDP:

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was formed by a group among the 34 eminent Nigerians who had written a letter to General Abacha, opposing his nomination as the sole candidate for the presidency in his transition – to – civil rule programme. With the lifting of the political activities by General Abubakar Abdusalam (after the death of Gen. Sanni Abacha) the majority of the group 34 initiated a political association and named it the People’s Democratic Party. It had support from most parts of the country. Some of the prominent members of the PDP were Dr. Alex Ekweme, Solomon Lar Philip Abiodun Don Etiebet, Muhammedu Arzika, Isa Mohammed, Dr John Nwodo (Jnr) Graham Douglas Olusegun Obansanjo, Major General (rtd) David Jemibewon, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu Toni Anehih and General Igbenedion.

The party led in the local government elections and won many councillor and local government chairmanship seats. It also won the majority of the seats in the state and national assemblies. In the gubernational elections, the PDP won 21 seats.

At the Federal level Obansanjo the presidential candidate of the party won and was sworn in as Nigerian president on May 29, 1999 with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the vice president.

B. STRCUTURAL ORGANISATION OF PDP

i. Ward congress

ii. Ward executive committee

iii. Local government executive committee

iv. Local government area congress

v. Senatorial district working committee

vi. State working committee

vii. State caucus

iix. State executive committee

ix. State congress

x. National working committee

xi. National caucus

xii. National executive committee

xiii. National board of trustees

xiv. National convention

C. SOURCES OF FINANCE OF PDP

i. Registration fee

ii. Subvention from federal government:-money given to political parties by the government through INEC

iii. Sales of party materials e.g party flag, T Shirt etc

iv. Donations and contributions from members

v. Subscription from members(party levy)

D. OBJECTIVES OF PDP (MANIFESTOS)

i. Free and qualitative education

ii. National integration

iii. Development of agriculture

iv. Housing for Nigerian citizens

v. Rural area development

vi. To cooperate with African and other nationalist movements and organisations working for the eradication of imperialism, neo-colorization racism and to strive relentively towards African unity.

vii. To build a strong and egalitarians society founded on the principle of freedom, equality

and justice.

iix. To cooperate with member nations of the international organisations in promoting their aims and regional groupings that shall be in the best interest of Nigerian and Africa and help to find just and peaceful solution for international disputes.

ix. To promote mutual respect for and understanding of the religious, traditional and cultural heritage of the various communities of Nigeria.

x. To ensure genuine restoration, permanent entrenchment and practice of democracy, the rule of law, equity and social justice.

xi. To uphold the independence of the judiciary, free press, as well as freedom of speech and association.

ACHIEVEMENT (PERFORMANCE OF THE PDP)

1. It is maintaining and preserving the integrity, unity and sovereignty of the federation.

2. It upholds the independence of the judiciary others as in objectives.

3. It sponsors and contests elections for all elective offices throughout all levels of government.

4. It won the 1999 presidential election won governorship election in 21 states of the federation where it controlled the majority seats in the various state assemblies. Also national assembly as it controls more than half of the local government council areas in Nigeria between 1999 and 2003

5. It approved the introduction and the use of Global System on Mobile (GSM)

6. It introduced Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to reduce and enrichment through one’s official position.

7. It attempted to reduce unemployment and poverty by introducing various schemes like National programme on eradication of poverty and vocational training schemes among others.

FORMATION OF ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (AD)

The Alliance for Democracy (AD) was registered as a political association mainly by APP members who were dissatisfied with the broad membership of the APP leadership at the time.

The leadership of the Alliance for Democracy were mainly from the people / politicians

who maintained vociterous opposition to the Abacha rule, under the aegis of the National Democratic, coalition (NADECO). They included Abraham Adesanya, Bola Ige Chuckuwemeka Ezeife, Arthur Nwankwo, Tanks Solanke Onasanya, Adebayo Adefarati, Ayo Opadokun, Yusuf Mamman and BAssey Ekpo Bassey.

AD was one of the mire political associations that were registered by INEC to contest the December 1998 local government elections. The party came third behind the PDP and APP. It won many seats during the state houses of assembly and national assembly elections in 1999. Also won six gubernational seats, namely Lagos, Ogun, Oyo Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States.

At the presidential election, the party formed an alliance with the All Peoples Party to present Chief Olu Falae as the president candidate, while Alhaji Umar Shinkafi of the APP was nominated as his running mate.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (AD)

A. The National Convention: this is made up of :

i. The National Chairman, deputy national chairman and six zonal vice chairmen.

ii. All members of the national executive committee.

iii. The president, vice president, governors and deputy governors of the party, ministers, advisers, state legislature and national assembly members of the party.

iv. Local government council chairmen, state secretaries of the party. Five delegates from each local government area and two elected representatives from the Federal Capital Territory.

v. State chairmen of the party, party chairmen in the local government areas and state commissioners and advisers to the governors.

Functions:

i. To elect national officers and other members of the national executive committee of the party.

ii. To approve the parties’ programmes and projects.

iii. To approve policies, guidelines and regulations to govern the conduct and administration of the party.\

iv. To interpret and amend party constitution.

v. To discipline members of the party.

vi. To generate funds for the party.

vii. To elect the presidential candidate of the party and ratify the vice-presidential candidate

nominated by the presidential candidate.

iix. To consider appeals on election.

B. National Executive Committee.

C. State Congress

D. State Executive Committee

E. Local Government Area Congress

F. Local Government Area Executive Committee

G. The Ward Congress

H. Ward Executive Committee

SOURCES OF FINANCE OF AD

i. Subventions from the government.

ii. Donations from members.

iii. Registration fees.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (AD)

1. To attain political power through legitimate democratic and constitutional means

2. To promote units and work for the political stability of the country

3. To promote and to see to the workability of the development of science and technology.

4. To come up with an economic policy based on public participation even with control in the areas of production, distribution, exchange of goods and services

5. To promote and pursue economic, social and political freedom as well as enhancing a better standard of living for the people of the country.

6. To possibly institutionalize and foster representative democracy with strict adherence to rule of law and due process in implementation of government policies.

7. To promote the doctrine of democratic principles, constitutional and legitimate means of acquiring political power.

8. To embark on the development of commerce and industry as well as agriculture.

9. To provide full and gainful employment for Nigerians that have the ability to work.

10. To embark on an integrated rural development aimed at improving the quality of life at the rural setting.

11. To promote and provide the basic necessity of life; housing, food, water, free education, primary health care, security etc. For the people of this country.

12. To put in place conditions and structures that will guarantee social justice and equality for all, as well as to promote economic, social and physical freedom for all.

13. To purse the development of science and technology.

PERFORMANCE (ACHIEVEMENTS OF AD)

1. It won and controlled six states of the south western zone by winning the governorship elections in 1999 general elections and in 2003 it won and retained only Lagos state.

2. It took part in 1999 and 2003 general elections throughout the country and won some seats in the National Assembly,State Assemblies and local government election.

3. Through the programme the quality of life of those in rural areas has improved considerably.

4. It provided free primary and secondary education and free primary healthcare especially in the states controlled by AD.

5. It promoted unity and supported every effort toward the political stability of the country.

FORMATION OF ALL PEOPLE’S PARTY (APP)

The All People’s party (APP) grew out of the enthusiasm national party, after the lifting of the ban or political activities by the General Abdulsalam Abubakar administration in July 1998. In the group was Arthur Nzeibe of the infamous Association for Better Nigerians.

Dr. Olusola Saraki, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Olu Falae, Odumagwu Ojukwu, Gamaliel Onosode, Bankole, Mahmud Waziri,Bode Olajumoke, and Joseph Wayas. All the same,

the party contested the elections into the local government councils and came second to the PDP. It also did well at the state houses of assembly, national assembly and gubernatuional elections. The party won nine (9) gubernational seats in the elections and the states were Sokoto, Kebbi, Zanfara, Bornu, Yobe, Kogi, Gombe, Jigawa and Kwara.

The party exhibited a conservative posture. It was a defender of northern interest within the federation. Thereafter, the APP suffered a fractional split and contested next round of election in 2013 as the All-Nigerian People’s Party.

STRUCTURE OF FINANCE OF APP

As in other political parties.

OBJECTIVES OF APP

1. To cooperate in fostering and promoting unity, political stability and evolve in people the value for national consciousness.

2. To vigorously pursue the execution of the programme of the party at all levels.

(b) Origin (c) Aims and objectives (d) Achievements for each of the organisation

Action Congress of Nigeria.

Party flag

FORMATION OF ACTION

CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (ACN)

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), formerly known as Action Congress (AC), is a classical liberalNigerian political party formed via the merger of the Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several other minor political parties in September 2006. The faction was led by Chief Bisi Akande. At

the Kaduna convention by ballot; Bisi Akande succeeded Hassan M. Zurmi as National Chairman, and Bashir Dalhatu replaced Bumi Omoseyindemi as National Secretary.

The party controls Lagos. It is regarded as a natural successor to the progressive politics more closely associated with Action Group and UPN led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the First and Second Republics respectively. However, criticism of the party’s more pragmatic and less ideological political outlook associated with AG and UPN, has made many argue it is less of a worthy political heir. The Party has strong presence in the South West (5 Governors, 15 Senators and 6 State Houses), Mid-West (1 Governor) and North Central Regions (3 Senators). Lagos, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Bauchi, Plateau, Niger, Adamawa, Oyo and Osun states by far accounts for majority of the party’s presence and discernable power base.

In February 2013 the party announced plans to merge with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTY

1. To uphold and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other laws in the Federation.

2. The attainment of political power through legitimate, democratic and constitutional means for the purpose of cultivating an egalitarian society based on the principles of equality, freedom and social justice.

3. To provide a purposeful and integrity driven leadership for Nigerians.

4. To promote unity and political stability by ensuring access to power and key public offices by all sections of the country.

5. To establish conditions and structures which shall guarantee social justice, equal opportunities, social, economic, and political freedom for the people and ensure the general welfare of all peoples of Nigeria.

6. To defend the sovereignty of the people and the observance of open democratic process in all organs of party, government and state.

7. To reduce poverty, want, ignorance, discrimination of all kinds, corruption, and exploitation in our society.

8. To maintain and promote the multi religious character of Nigeria, as well as religious tolerance and harmony.

9. To encourage the development of agriculture, commerce and industry.

10. To ensure purposeful mobilization of the creativity and resources of the people of Nigeria for the establishment of an economic environment in which opportunities for the fulfilment of life and the pursuit of happiness shall be open to all Nigerians; and a fair and equitable distribution of the wealth of the Nation.

11. To promote active participation of Nigerians in the strategic sectors of the economy.

12. To create enabling environment for full and gainful employment for all Nigerians who are able and willing to work, and to secure for workers full fruits and benefits of their labour.

13. To provide the basic necessities of life, e.g. food, potable water, roads, security, recreation facilities, environmental protection etc.

14.

SOURCES OF FINANCE

As in other political parties

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PARTY (ACN)

1. The ACN has recorded some relative success in its attempt to reposition the South-West zone.

2. On its formation, in 2006, the party went on to win the Govern ship election in which Chief Raji Fashola was elected Executive Governor of Lagos State.

3. ACN has now replaced the ANPP as the dominant opposition party in the National Assembly.

4. By the outcome of 2011 election results, ACN has transited from a 1 state party to a 4 state regional dominat party, to a National political party.

5. A.C.N won 14 out of 109 senate seats and 55 out of 360 House of Representatives seats.

6. A.C.N controlled 6 out of 36 states of the 2011 elections.

EVALUATION

1. Write three performances of SDP.

2. What were the achievements of NRC?

3. How did the parties contribute to democracy in Nigeria?

4. Discuss the impact that SDP and NRC have had on Nigerian politics and society.

5. What lessons can be learned from the successes and failures of the two parties? How can these lessons inform the formation of future political parties

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. What was the target of Babangida administration behind the founding of NRC and SDP?

2. Explain the manifestoes of SDP.

3. Explain the organization structures of SDP and NRC.

4. What were the achievements of NRC

5. How were NRC and SDP funded?

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. The two political parties during the third republic were (a) NRC and NPP (b) SDP and NRC (c) UPN and NRC (d) GNPP and NAP

2. The presidential candidate on the platform of SDP believed to have won June 12 1993 presidential election was (a) Chief MKO Abiola (b) Alhaji Sheu Shagari (c) Alhaji Waziri Danzuki (d) Chief Omololu Olunloyo

3. The major source of funding of the two parties – NRC and SDP, was (a) Federal Government grant (b) council tax (c) monthly allocation from crude oil (d) collections from the masses

5. NRC mean (a) National Republican Convention (b) Nigerian Redemption Council (c) Nigerian Reactivation Congress (d) New Revolution of the Country

6. Discuss the impact that SDP and NRC have had on Nigerian politics and society.

7. How can we learn from the successes and failures of these two parties? How can these lessons inform the formation of future political parties in Nigeria?

READING ASSIGNMENT: Read Comprehensive Government for Senior Secondary Schools by Johnson Ugoji Anyaele (2003).Pages 180 – 181.

PRE-READING ASSIGNMENT: Read about the fourth republic political parties.

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