Revision and Political party

Meaning of political party

 A political party is an organized group of people or bodies who seek to capture political power through an election in order to run the affairs of a country. It often puts forward candidates for public office.

It is an organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office. 

Types of a political party

• Mass parties: These are political parties that are structured to allow as many citizens as possible to take membership. Membership of the mass parties are mainly composed of different sections of the society.

•Elitist Parties: These parties either deliberately or otherwise limit membership to a few elitist in society and these elitists are of the upper class.

•Ideological parties: Some parties are formed mainly to promote a particular ideological belief, a good example is Adolph Hitler’s national socialist  party (NAZI).

•Oligarchy parties: These are parties that are formed by and which invariably revolve around certain individuals.

Atiku Abubakar, PDP Presidential Candidate in 2019 General Election.

Functions of political parties

•Unity: Political parties unite the people on major issues affecting the state.

•It serves as a link: Political parties always serve as a link between the people and the government.

•Accountability: They enable the government to become accountable to the electorate through constructive criticism of the government in power.

•Machinery for recruitment: Political parties provide machinery for recruiting political leaders.

•Control of the government: Political parties exist to contest elections and control the government.

•Dramatization of Politics: This is done by keeping the nation politically alive.

•Opposition: Political parties provide opposition to the ruling party.

•Change of government: With political parties contesting elections, change of government is made possible with ease.

•Social Welfare and Humanitarian Services: It provides social and welfare services for the people e.g. job opportunities, the award of scholarships, etc.

•10. Sponsorship: They nominate and sponsor candidates for elections.

President Muhammadu Buhari, APC Presidential Candidate in 2019 General Election.