CONCEPT OF COMMODIFICATION OF LABOUR

POLITICAL PARTY Political party is an organized group of people that are politically inclined and who share common political ideology with the primary aim of gaining political power in a state. Shively (2005: 247) defines political party as “a group of officials or would-be officials who are linked with a sizable group of citizens into an organization; a chief objective of this organization is to ensure that its officials attain power or are maintained in power.” Heywood (2007:272) seems to have given us a comprehensive and logically articulated meaning of political party when he aptly defined it as “a group of people that is organized for the purpose of winning government power, by electoral or other means.” According to him, party may be “authoritarian or democratic; they may seek power through elections or through revolution; and they may espouse ideologies of the left, right or centre, or, indeed, disavow political ideas altogether.” The primary aims for the formation of political party is to gain political power and institute its ideology. Ideology is a body of knowledge or belief which guides actions or inaction of political party or government. In political party, ideology plays a crucial role in setting and modeling the agenda of the party. This is because it serves as a channel through which individuals or party follow to actualize their political goal. Hence, what distinguishes one political party from another is its party ideology. In the western world, ideology plays a crucial role in the election or choice of political leaders. That is why it is seldom to hear about politicians decamping or carpet-crossing. Using the United States as a case study, it is very difficult to see somebody from the Republican decamping to the Democratic Party. On the contrary, in Nigeria and other African countries, political parties are devoid of ideology. It is so irritating and provocative that instead of Nigerians to form ideological oriented political parties they prefer ethnic and religious oriented one. For that reason one can authoritatively say that all Nigerian political parties are the same. As we rightly noted that what differentiates one political party from others is its ideology not individuals that formed the party. Types of political party Political party is classified into different types based on nature, structure and composition. Elite or Cadre Party: As its name connotes, this type of party is not open to everybody who wants to participate or be a member. Participation is based on qualification either by wealth, education or fame. Elite party believes in the quality of individual not quantity. It builds its principles in line with the popular phrase of Vladimir Lenin that ‘’ fewer the better’’. Mass Party: This type of party is open to everybody who has the interest to become a member. It pays more attention in quantity rather than quality. This type of party is commonly obtainable in democratic states. This is because democracy is a government or game of majoritarianism (number). Note: As we have rightly asserted, party systems are the structural arrangement of political party in a state which determines the numbers of political parties that are legally allowed to operate and possibly form government if voted into power. DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN NIGERIA (Brief Discussion) The genesis of the formation of political parties in Nigeria can be traced to the introduction of elective principle in Nigeria by the Clifford constitution of 1922. This gave Nigerians the opportunity to participate in electing their representatives. As a result of this, Herbert Macaulay popularly known as the father of Nigerian nationalism formed “Nigerian National Democratic party (NNDP) as the first political party in Nigeria in the year 1923. Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNPD) This was the first political party in Nigeria founded by Herbert Macaulay in 1923. The party was formed due to the introduction of elective principle in 1922 by Clifford constitution. In the election held in 1923, 1928 and that of 1935, NNDP the party performed creditably by winning the three seats for the Lagos legislative council. The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) It was the Lagos Youth Movement that metamorphosed into the Nigerian Youth movement as a political party in 1934. The movement was founded by Ernest Ikoli, H.O. Davis and others. The party was mainly formed to challenge the political dominance of NNDP especially in Lagos. Aims and Objectives of NYM To achieve political independence for Nigeria To fight against racial discrimination especially in the area of employment To unite Nigerians to speak with one voice To achieve fairness, equity and just society in Nigeria. The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon (NCNC) This party was formed on August, 1944 by the amalgamated labour unions and nationalists. The NCNC had more national colouration than NNDP and NYM. The first president of the party was Herbert Macaulay while Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe was the first national secretary general. Note that the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon (NCNC) was renamed National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) when the southern Cameroons joined the Republic of Cameroon in the early 1960s. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE NCNC 1. To achieve political independence for Nigeria 2. To rekindle the political consciousness of Nigerian people 3. To fight against injustice and exploitation of Nigeria by the colonizers. 4. To unite different ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to speak with one voice. The Action Group (AG) The Action Group (AG) was formed in Ibadan, Nigeria on March 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other Yoruba prominent personalities. It was a cultural organization called Omo oduduwa that metamorphosed into AG as a political party. Aims and objectives To forestall or prevent the NCNC from taking western Nigeria To promote and protect Yoruba interests both at home and in Diaspora To unite with other parties and nationalists to achieve self-government for Nigeria To awaken the political consciousness of Yorubas. The Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) The NPC was founded by the Northerners in 1951. It was formed out of Northern cultural organization known as “Jamiyyar mutanem Arewa” which was formed in 1948 Aims and Objectives To foster unity among the Northerners To protect and preserve the tradition and culture of the Northerners To foster political awareness of the North To join hands with other political parties to develop and achieve self-government for Nigeria. Moreover, other viable and unviable political parties in the first republic were: the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), Dynamic Party of Nigeria (DPN), the Niger Delta Front (NDF), Niger Delta Congress (NDC), Northern Elements progressive Union (NEPU) etc. Political Parties in Second Republic (1979-1983) In the second republic, when the military lifted the ban on political activities in Nigeria in September 1978, many political parties were formed, both viable and unviable ones. There were more than 52 political parties that were gearing up for the 1979 general elections, but they were disappointed as the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) registered only five. In this context, we shall discuss the five registered political parties briefly. The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) NPN was formed in 1978 mostly by members of the defunct Northern Peoples Congress (NPC). The national chairman of the party was Adisa Akinloye while the presidential candidate in 1979 presidential election was Alhaji shehu Shagari. The symbols of the party were “House and maize” while the slogan was “one Nation one destiny” Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) This party was formed by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1978. It was the first political party that was formed in the second republic. The symbol of the party was “light bulb” while the slogan was “up Nigeria”. The national chairman and the presidential candidate of the party in 1979 election was Obafemi Awolowo at the same time. Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) The NPP was formed in 1978 by many prominent Nigerians led by Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri. Other members include Chief Sam Mbakwe, Mathew Mbu, and Chief Solomon Liar etc. The symbol of the party was “a family” while the slogan was “power”. The national chairman was Adeniran Ogunsanya while the presidential candidate for 1979 election was Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) This party was formed by mallam Aminu Kano in 1978. The symbol of the party was a “key” while the slogan was “victory”. The presidential candidate and the national Chairman was Aminu Kano at the same time. Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) The GNPP was formed by Alhaji waziri Ibrahim in the year 1978. The symbols of the party were “cockerel and palm tree’’ while the slogan was’’ fairness’’. The national chairman and presidential candidate was Waziri Ibraham at the same time. Political Parties in the Third Republic In the defunct third republic, Nigeria operated two party systems. It was only two political parties that were legally recognized and registered. The two parties were: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC) The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for 1993 election was Chief M.K.O Abiola from west while Alhaji Tofa from north was that of the National Republican Convention (NRC). The presidential election was held on June 12, 1993 which was conducted by the National Electoral commission (NEC) under the amiable leadership of Professor Humphrey Nwosu. Although, the result was annulled during the collation stage by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who was the then military head of state for reasons best known to himself and his cohorts. The unofficial results released showed that the SDP candidate Chief M.K.O Abiola had won the election because he was leading in many states of the federation with a landslide. This was what made him to authoritatively declare himself president in Lagos state in 1994 that cost him his life. Abiola after declaring himself president was arrested and charged with treasonable felony by the then military head of state Gen. Sani Abacha. He later died in prison in 1998. Note: one unique thing about the 1993 election was that, many analysts both local and international have judged it as the best freest and fairest election Nigeria had ever conducted. Those that witnessed the 1993 election are also in better position to compare it with that of 2015 general elections. Political Parties in the Fourth Republic (1999 till date) The formation and registration of more political parties in Nigeria has remained unabated despite the fact that Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) has mapped out legal parameter to checkmate unviable political parties. As at present, when this research was being conducted, Nigeria has 26 registered political parties according to Independent National Electoral Commission official website: www.inecnigeria.org. The parties are: Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for Democracy (AD), African Democratic Congress (ADC), African peoples Alliances (APA), All Progressives Congress (APC), All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Citizens Popular Party (CPP), Democratic peoples Party (DPP), Independent Democrats (ID), Kowa Party (KP), Labour Party (LP), Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), National Conscience Party (NCP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), People for Democratic Change (DPC), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Social Democratic Party (SDP), United Democratic Party (UDP), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), United Progressive Party (UPP), (source: www.inecnigeria.org).