By Livinus Nnebedum
The first political party called Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) was formed in 1923. This was due to the influence of the press and journalists who played prominent role in formation of early political parties in Nigeria
Some of the parties before the advent of the Military Regime in 1966 were:
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). In 1944 Herbert Macaulay was elected President of NCNC and Zik the General Secretary.
Action group (AG)
Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) formed in 1936
Northern People Congress (NPC)
United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA)
United Middle Belt Congress
In 1980’s the political parties formed with their presidential candidates include:
Nigeria People Party (NPP) – Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (ZIK)
National Party of Nigeria (NPN) – Alhaji Shehu Shagari
In 1982/83 NPN was the ruling party at National level and they have Branches even at Universities. There was NPN Students Wing University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) and this writer Livinus Nnebedum was a member.
I recalled in 1982 University of Nigeria Nsukka NPN Students Wing travelled from Nsukka to Polo Park Enugu and welcomed Chief Emeka Ojukwu during his return from Ivory Coast following the Nigeria Civil War. Also the Students Wing of NPN, UNN Chapter were at Anambra State House of Assembly Enugu then in May 1982 and welcomed Chief Emeka Ojukwu. Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo now Governor Anambra State was also with us all the way from Nsukka to State House of Assembly Enugu. He was Executive member of the NPN Students Wing UNN Chapter. At Nsukka we have meeting venue at the Hotel CAROLINA near Zik’s Flats Hostel, UNN.
Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) – Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim
Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) – Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Peoples Redemption Party – (PRP) – Alhaji Amino Kano
Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) – Mr. Tunji Braithwaite
In early 1990’s the two Party System existed namely:
Social Democratic Party (SDP) – Chief M.K.O Abiola as Presidential candidate
National Republican Convention (NRC) – Alhaji B. Torfa as Presidential candidate.
In 1999 the parties in existence were:
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)
Alliance for Democracy (AD) and many others.
During 2003 general elections in Nigeria more than 25 political parties were recognized by INEC to name but few:
PDP – Obasanjo as Presidential Candidate
AD
ANPP – Buhari as Presidential Candidate
NAP – Tunji Braithwaite Presidential Candidate
PRP – Balarabe Musa, Presidential Candidate
APGA – Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu Presidential Candidate
National Mass Movement of Nigeria – Gani Fawehinmi Presidential Candidate
United Nigeria Peoples Party – Jim Nwobodo Presidential Candidate etc
In 2007 general elections, INEC also recognized 50 parties some of them include;
Accord (A)
PDP
ANPP
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
AD
Labour Party (LP)
PRP
All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)
United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) etc
Some Registered Political Parties in 2015 general elections include;
APGA
ANPP
PDP
All Progressive Congress (APC)
Labour Party (LP)
Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA)
AD etc
IN 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS THE TWO PARTIES WERE APC & PDP: The presidential candidate of APC was Buhari and for PDP it ws Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2023 General Elections the parties were:
Labour Party (LP) – Gregory Peter Obi as Presidential Candidate
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Atiku Abubakar Presidential Candidate
All Progressive Congress (APC) – Ahmed Bola Tinubu Presidential Candidate
APGA etc Thus for the past 101 years Nigeria had more than 150 political parties most of them had gone moribund while very very few are in existence.
Livinus Nnebedum, Author & Public Affairs Analyst & Former Director Anambra State Agricultural Development Program (ADP) writes from Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze
