WAEC Government 2020 Theory — Question 8

Model answer

(a) Five political parties were registered by the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) to contest the 1979 Presidential election which ushered in the Second Republic (list any three): (1) National Party of Nigeria (NPN); Chief Obafemi Awolowo (note: NPN's presidential candidate was actually Alhaji Shehu Shagari). (2) Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN); Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (note: UPN's presidential candidate was actually Chief Obafemi Awolowo). (3) Nigerian People's Party (NPP); Alhaji Aminu Kano (note: NPP's presidential candidate was actually Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe). (4) People's Redemption Party (PRP); Alhaji Aminu Kano. (5) The Great Nigerian People's Party (GNPP); Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim. (b) Features of political parties in Nigeria since independence (any three): (i) The parties do not have a national outlook. (ii) The parties failed to promote unity and harmony. (iii) The parties harped on ethnicity which sharply divided the nation. (iv) The parties projected personalities rather than raising issues of national concern to be addressed. (v) Lack of internal democracy/factionalism. (vi) Corruption among high ranking leaders of the party. (vii) Personality cult and Godfatherism. (viii) Confused ideology. (ix) Phenomenon of defection. (x) Undermining democracy through election rigging and other fraudulent electoral practices. (xi) Lack of effective political representation due to politics of zoning.