Political Parties

Political parties may be defined as organized group of people who share similar political opinions, principles, interests and beliefs with the aim of gaining political power and governing the country.  PDP, APC, APGA,  are political parties in fourth republic of Nigeria.

FEATURES OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

1. Political parties main objectives is to contest elections win and govern the country through constitutional means.

• They usually have a manifesto, which is a document listing their intentions and objectives.

• They usually try to show that they are loyal to the electorate, and would serve their interest if voted into power.
• Political parties usually organized membership to reach all corners of the country.

• They usually tends to lean towards a major social- economic ideology, such as capitalism and socialism, which guides their members’ actions , especially when they came to power.

FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

1. Political parties educate the electorate through campaigns and rallies which stimulate their political awareness.

• They help to arouse the interest of the electorate towards participation in elections.

• They help to ensure political stability through the availability of a pool of their members capable of running the government at any time.

• The manifestoes of any political parties swerve as a ready source from which government policies can be formulated.

• Political parties in power help to provide amenities like electricity, pipe-born water, tarred roads, schools and hospitals.

TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES

• Mass parties: mass parties are those whose membership is drawn from all segments of society, including men and women, the rich and the poor. E.g. Labour party, People party.

• Elite party: an elite party also known as cadre party, usually compromises only the wealthy, the professionals and the influential.

• Personality  party: a party may be described as a ‘personality’ type when the guiding spirit or leadership is that provided by  one man or woman who has attain popularity.

• Religious party: Religious political parties are mainly formed by members of a particular religion. e.g.  state of Iraq, Shiites parties and Kurdish party in Iraq.

• Party manifestoes
• Party manifesto refers to the public declaration of principles, policies, purposes and cardinal plans which a political party intends to adopt on all subjects when it comes to power. It includes the aims and objectives of a political party.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A PARTY MANIFESTO

1. It gives course of action which the political party will follow in order to succeed.
2. The party manifesto is used as a magnetic pull to entice more members and the electorates to support the party.
3. Party manifesto is essential because parties want to retain the seat of power.
4. The manifesto is what enables the electorates make informed choice among several policies made by parties for their mandate. 
5. A political party can be assessed based on the extent to which its programmes contained in the party manifesto have been achieved or implemented.

ASSIGNMENT

1  a.  What is party manifesto?

    b.    Account for the importance of party manifesto.

2. list and explain types of political parties. 3. State functions of political parties.