Nigeria’s political parties from 1923 to date

By Livinus Nnebedum

In the countdown to the 2027 General Election, it is germane to look back, perhaps for the educational benefit of the younger generations, on the history of political parties in the country. The first political party in Nigeria was called the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) formed in 1923. This was due to the influence of the Press and journalists who played prominent role in the formation of early political parties.  Some of the parties before the advent of Military Rule in 1966 were: National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

In 1944 Herbert Macaulay was elected President of NCNC and Nnamdi Azikiwe, Zik, became the General Secretary. The other parties were: Action Group, Nigerian Youth Movement, formed in 1936; Northern People’s Congress (NPC), United Middle Belt Congress and United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA).

In the 1980s, the political parties and their presidential candidates were: Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as Presidential Candidate; Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN, Chief Obafemi, Awolowo); Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP -Alhaji Aminu Kano); Nigeria Advance Party (NAP – Dr Tunji Braithwaite),      National Party of Nigeria (NPN  -Alhaji Shehu Shagari)

In 1983, NPN was the ruling party at the national level and had branches even in universities. There was an NPN Students Wing at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).  This writer, Livinus Nnebedum, was a member of the NPN Students Wing UNN Chapter and Chukwu Soludo, now Governor of Anambra State was an Executive Member along with other students of UNN in 1982/83. 

The NPN Students Wing of UNN travelled from UNN to Polo Park Enugu and the Anambra State House of Assembly Enugu where they welcomed Chief Emeka Ojukwu during his return to Nigeria from Ivory Coast in 1982.  On another occasion, the NPN Students Chapter of UNN attended they campaign rally at Alor in Anambra State. The present Governor of Anambra State, Prof C.C. Soludo was also with members of the NPN Students Chapter UNN on those occasions in 1982/83.

In the early 1990s, the two-party system was introduced by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida regime, with the registering of: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with Chief Moshood K.O. Abiola as the presidential candidate and National Republican Convention (NRC), which fielded Alhaji Bashir Tofa as its presidential candidate in the June 12, 1993 election, which was later annulled, when it became apparent that Abiola would win.

As the country began preparing for the return of democratic governance in 1999, some new parties were establishes. These were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

During the 2003 general elections in Nigeria, more than 25 political parties were recognized by INEC. Significantly, the AD changed its name to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). In 2007 general election INEC also recognized 50 political parties, among which were the following: Accord Party, PDP, ANPP, Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).  And in 2015, faction of PDP, APGA and ANPP merged to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), which fielded the late General Muhammadu Buhari as the presidential candidate.

In readiness for the 2027 General Election, INEC has registered more parties. In retrospect Nigeria has had more than 200 political parties. Most of them have become moribund.

By next year, Nigeria will be 67 years old since Independence in 1960. It should be recalled that at No. 10 Downing Street, London, Rt Hon Harold Macmillan announced the date for Nigeria’s independence. Nigerian personalities like Zik, Awolowo, Sardauna, and Balewa were present at N0 10 Downing StreetLondon then.

At 67, Nigeria should be talking not only of political independence but economic independence as a sovereign nation and giant of Africa. Economically how far has Nigeria gone? The fight against hunger, poverty, unemployment, political indiscipline and insurgency remains a long battle. Nigeria has had good programmes and policies in agriculture to tackle hunger and food insecurity, but has lacked honest, judicious and religious implementation of those beautiful programmes and policies.

Nnebedum, an author, public affairs analyst and former Director, nambra State Agricultural Development Program (ADP), writes from Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State,  Nigeria.