POLITICAL PARTIES AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between Political parties and National development in Edo state. The study raised and answered the following  questions which include,  Is there a significant relationship between institutional structure of political parties, grass root activities, awareness of political functions, political systems and national development in Edo state?  It formulated and tested the following hypotheses which include, There is no significant relationship between Institutional structure of Political parties and National Development in Edo state, there is no significant relationship between Grass root activities of Political Parties and National Development in Edo state, there is no significant relationship between Awareness of political functions and National Development  in Edo state, there is no significant relationship between Political Party Systems and National Development in Edo state. The research used questionnaires to extract primary data from 181 respondents. The Chi-square analytical tool was used to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed that, Institutional structure of political parties has a positive and significant relationship with National development   in Edo state,  Grass root activities of political parties has a positive and significant relationship with National development in Edo state, Awareness of political functions  has a positive and significant relationship with National development  in Edo state, and Party systems has a positive and insignificant relationship with National Development in Edo state. It was concluded that Political party activities can enhance the national development of Edo state, if these activities are properly managed and utilized in order to provide and urge a driven purpose on the part of political members. The study recommends that institutional structure of political parties should be built on stable ideologies and principles, which is progressive and developmental in order to help shape Edo state and Nigeria as a whole. The grass root  activities of political parties should be centered on promoting a progressive mindset to members of political parties at the ward levels in order to enshrine the need for national development in Edo state and Nigeria. The electorates should be enlightened on the political functions of political parties in order for them to be abreast with how these political functions can lead to national development which could help in informing their choices during elections. Lastly, Political party systems should be centered on a multi- party system, in order to increase the choice pool of electorates during state and national elections in Edo state and Nigeria as a whole.