POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS

MEANING OF POLITICAL PARTIES

A political party is an organized group of people who share similar political ideologies, goals, and values. They come
together to contest elections and hold power in the government.

OR

Political parties are autonomous organizations consisting of individuals of the same interest who share similar ideas
and opinions on current affairs,make manifesto and nominate people who will represent them in the levels of government

TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES

1. IDEOLOGICAL PARTIES:

These parties are based on a particular set of political or social beliefs. For example: socialist parties advocate for
social ownership and democratic control of the means of production while conservative parties emphasize traditional
values and institutions

2. NATIONAL PARTIES:These parties operate throughout an entire country and contest elections at various levels of
government (local, regional, national)

3. REGIONAL OR ETHNIC PARTIES:

These parties represent the interest of a particular region or ethnic group within a larger nation/state

4.GREEN PARTIES

These parties prioritize environmental sustainability and ecological principles in their policies and platforms

5. RELIGIOUS PARTIES: These parties are based on religious principles,values and teachings of a specific religion e.g,
christia Democratic Union in Germany, The Islamic republic party in Iran etc
 EXAMPLES OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

NIGERIA:

--APC(All progressive congress)

--PDP(people's Democratic party)

--LP(Labour Party)

UNITED STATES:

--Democratic party

--Republican party

--Green party

UNITED KINGDOM:

--Conservative party

--Labour party

GERMANY

--Christian Democratic Union(CDU)

--Free Democratic party (FDP)

CANADA:

Liberal party

New Democratic party (NDP)

IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES

Political parties represent the interests and views of different groups in society, giving everyone a voice.

2. POLICY MAKING:

They create and promote plans and ideas for how the government should run and solve problems.

3. VOTER MOBILIZATION:

Parties encourage people to vote and participate in elections, ensuring that many voices are heard.

4. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:

They find and train future leaders, making sure there are qualified people to run for public office.

5. GOVERNMENT FORMATION:

The party that wins an election forms the government and carries out its plans and policies.

6. OPPOSITION ROLE:

Parties that do not win act as the opposition, checking the government’s actions and offering alternatives.

ELECTION

MEANING OF ELECTION

An election is a process in which people vote to choose someone for a public position or to make decisions about laws
and policies. It is a key part of democracy, allowing citizens to have a say in who governs them and how they are
governed.

OR

An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold
public office.
 TYPES OF ELECTION

1. GENERAL ELECTION

This type of election determine the overall composition of a legislative body of government. It is an electoral
process to choose most or all members of an elected body typically a legislature. For example; General elections were
held in Nigeria on 25th February to elect the president and vice president and members of the senate and house of
representatives.

2. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION:

In this election voters choose the head of the state and government for a country. Presidential election is the election
of any head of state whose official title is PRESIDENT. For example,the 2023 Nigerian presidential election was held
on the 25th of February to elect the president of Nigeria.

3. LOCAL ELECTION:

This type of elections are held to select representative and officials at the local level such as mayors, local
government chairman etc.

4. BY ELECTION (SPECIAL ELECTION):

These elections are held to fill a political office that become vacant between general elections this may occur due
to death, Resignation or disqualification of the incumbent.

5.ELECTRONIC VOTING/E--VOTING

This refers to elections where voters cast their votes electronically using computers or other electronic devices.E
voting aids or take care of casting and counting ballots including voting time.

IMPORTANCE OF ELECTION

1. CHOICE:
 Elections give people the opportunity to choose their leaders and representatives, ensuring their voices are heard in
decision-making.

2. ACCOUNTABILITY:

Through elections, elected officials are held accountable for their actions and decisions by voters.

3. FAIRNESS:

Elections provide a fair and orderly way to resolve differences and decide who will govern, based on majority support.

4. STABILITY:

Elections help maintain political stability by providing a regular and predictable way to transfer power and leadership.

5. DEMOCRACY:

Elections are a fundamental aspect of democracy, ensuring that government power comes from and remains with the
people through their votes.

Election Process in Nigeria

1. **Announcement and Preparation**:

- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announces election dates and releases the timetable.

- Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is conducted, and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are issued to registered voters.

2. **Party Primaries and Candidate Selection**:

- Political parties hold primaries to select their candidates for various positions.

- Parties submit their candidates' lists to INEC.

3. **Election Campaigns**:
 - Parties and candidates campaign across the country through rallies, debates, and advertisements.

- INEC provides guidelines for peaceful and fair campaigns.

4. **Election Day**:

- Voting takes place at designated polling units.

- Voters are accredited using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

- Votes are cast in secret ballot boxes and counted at polling units.

5. **Collation and Announcement of Results**:

- Results are collated at ward, local government, state, and national levels.

- INEC declares the winners based on the collated results.

6. **Post-Election Activities**:

- Election disputes can be addressed through petitions to election tribunals.

- Elected candidates are sworn into office on designated dates, such as May 29 for the president.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS

Political parties and elections have a symbiotic relationship in democratic systems. Parties use elections to compete for
power and influence by presenting their policies and candidates to voters. Elections, in turn, provide the mechanism
through which citizens choose which party or candidate best represents their interests and values.

Political parties mobilize voters during elections, ensuring turnout and support. They also shape electoral outcomes by
organizing campaigns, debates, and messaging to sway public opinion.

Conversely, the results of elections determine the composition of governments, with winning parties forming
administrations and implementing their agendas. Elections hold parties accountable to the electorate, influencing their
policies and actions based on voter feedback.
Overall, elections are the cornerstone of democratic governance, while political parties serve as the vehicles through
which citizens participate in and influence the electoral process.

In conclusion, the relationship between political parties and elections is pivotal to the functioning of democratic
societies. Political parties use elections to compete for power, articulate policy agendas, and mobilize public support.
Elections, in turn, provide citizens with the opportunity to choose their representatives and hold them accountable.

The outcomes of elections determine the composition of governments and shape public policy, reflecting the collective
will of the electorate. This process ensures that governments remain responsive to the needs and preferences of the
people they serve. Ultimately, political parties and elections together form the backbone of representative democracy,
fostering political participation, accountability, and the peaceful transfer of power.