History of Nigerian politice and political parties

    Precisely 90years ago in 1920 the first nationalist movement in Africa The national congress of British west African colonies was formed in Accra Ghana with delegates from four British west African colonies Gambia gold coast now Ghana Nigeria and sierral loean lead by Caesly Hayford  were unanimously asking for reforms which will enable them participate in they administration of their countries.

    After three years in 1923 the Clifford constitution set set up a new legislative council which will allow Nigerian indigene to be elected instead of being nominated as it was previously done this lead to the formation of the first political party in Nigeria THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (NNNDP) by Herbert Macaulay in 1922.

    After the elections in 1923, 1929 and 1933 a new political party was formed in 1934 THE NIGERIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT (NYM) by leaders like Earnest Okoli, Samuel Akinsanya, H.O Davis, Dr JC Vaughan and the late great zik of Africa Dr Nnamdi Azikwe.as a result of crisis in the NNDP  in 1the 1938 elections NYM defeated NNDP.

    Two years later internal crisis caused the party (NYM) to break up in 1941 thus leading to the formation of another political party called NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIANS AND CAMEROUNS (NCNC) in 1944 with Herbert Macaulay of the (NNDP) as the president and Dr nnamdi azikwe of the defunt (NYM) as the general secretary ,After the death of Herbert Macaulay Dr Nnamdi Azikwe assumed the leadership of the party .

    That same year Sir Arther Richards became the governor of Nigeria he  introduced a new constitution which divided Nigeria int three regions namely Northern region, Western region and Easter region leading to the formation of two cultural groups which later metamorphosed into political parties they are THE EDGE OMO ODUDUWA founded by chief Awolowo in 1945 which later became ACTION GROUP in 1951 and JAM'IYYAR MUTANE AREWA which later became NORTHERN PEOPLES CONGRESS in 1949 with Dr Dikko as president and Mallam Rafi as vice.

    Years later a ban was placed on polities in Nigeria and in 1978 the ban was lifted and new political parties were formed ther are UNITY PARTY OF NIGERIA (UPN) elected president chief Obafemi Awolowo, NIGERIAN PEOPLES PARTY (NPP) elected president Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, GREAT NIGERIAN PEOPLES PARTY (GNRP) elected president Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim and, PEOPLES REDEMPTION PARTY( PRP). Years after years these parties gradually defunct on the the death of their leader and or due to internal crisis between, 1998 til date the number of political parties in Nigeria are vastly increasing with about 57 political parties currently in Nigeria one could not help asking these questions ; what are the criteria used to approve a political party?, where do they get funds? is it through individual donations or government revenue