DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

CONTENT

1. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
2. Political Parties
3. Pressure Groups
4. The Arms of Government

(A) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the institution charged with the responsibility of organizing, conducting and supervising elections in Nigeria.

Functions of INEC

1. To conduct a free and fair election
2. To register all eligible voters and political parties
3. To organize campaigns for the contesting political parties
4. To provide all electoral materials
5. To educate the electorates
6. To divide the country into electoral districts known as constituencies
7. To provide security on the day of election
8. To announce the result of elections etc.

(B) Political Parties

This is a group of people having the same ideology and who come together for the purpose of winning an election and take the control of the government. Examples of prominent political parties in Nigeria are People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APC), All People’s Grand Alliance (APGA), All Nigerians People’s Party (ANPP), etc.