CITIZENSHIP

The status of a person living within the area of jurisdiction of a nation-state or political
community where he is given full rights, duties, and privileges and is expected in return
to perform certain duties and specific obligations to the state or political community
concerned.
METHOD OF ACQUISITION OF CITIZENSHIP
1. Acquisition by Birth
2. Acquisition by blood ties/descent
3. Acquisition by Registration
4. Acquisition by naturalisation.
Conditions necessary to acquire citizenship through naturalisation;
1. must be an adult
2. must be capable of contributing to national development
3. must swear an oath of allegiance
Grounds on which citizenship can be withheld from a citizen;
Citizenship can be withdrawn if it was acquired by registration or naturalization in
Nigeria if a citizen;
1. is being jailed for over three years within seven years of acquiring citizenship.
2. An act of a speech considered disloyal to the country
3. Interacting with or assisting the enemy in times of war.
RIGHTS OF A CITIZEN.
Citizens enjoy 3 broad types of rights which are;
1. Social and economic rights
2. Civil rights
3. Political rights
Social And Economic Rights: This includes rights to life, security and privacy, freedom
from fear and ignorance, and the right to peaceful assembly and association.
Civil Rights: This includes freedom of movement and action, freedom of speech and
expression, freedom of religion, rights to property and justice etc.
Political Rights: The rights to vote and be voted for access to public office in the
political, community and freedom from discrimination
DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF A CITIZEN.
Some of these duties and obligations include:
1. Paying of tax
2. voting in times of election
3. Help protect the sovereignty and integrity of the nation-state e.g. report when
someone is a threat or danger.
4. Be patriotic and loyal to the nation-state.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CITIZEN AND NON-CITIZEN
i. The rights and duties of citizens are unqualified and not restricted in any way
while non-Citizens are qualified and restricted, and find the scope of obligation
limited.
ii. Rights and duties are defined by documents such as the country's constitution for
citizens while rights and duties of non-citizens are derived from international
conventions, traditional and contractual arrangements, etc.
iii. Citizen's rights are irrevocable while rights can easily be revoked.
iv. Citizens have unlimited rights to peaceful assembly association. Non-citizens
have limited rights to peaceful assembly and association.
v. Citizens have the right to vote and be noted for while non-citizens do not.
vi. Citizens can hold any public office while non-citizens cannot hold any public
office.
How a citizen can lose his Citizenship
1. A Citizen by registration may lose his citizenship if he is disloyal to his country or
found guilty of treason.
2. A Citizen can renounce his citizenship e.g. a politician running from punishment
may renounce his country and seek citizenship from a new country provided the
two countries have no extradition treaty.
3. A citizen by naturalisation may lose his citizenship if he is jailed for not less than
three years within 7 years after he gets his citizenship if he is disloyal to the
country.
POLITICAL PARTY
A political party is an organised group of people with similar political opinions and
ideologies who work together to gain control of the government to implement their
party programs based on their ideology.
ORGANISATION OF POLITICAL PARTY
Three factors responsible for influencing the organisation of political parties are;
1. The goals of the founding fathers.
2. The type of government
3. Social, economic, and Cultural forces e.g. Class, ethnic groups, religion, and
historical experience.
The organisation reflects social, economic and cultural forces such as class, ethnic
groups, religion, and historical experience.
The type of government and other political Institutions affect how political parties are
organised.
FUNCTIONS OF POLITICAL PARTIES.
a. Political parties educate the electorate through campaigns and rallies which
stimulate their political awareness.
b. Political parties are a forum for the government to measure public opinion and
for the people to express their feelings to the government.
 c. political parties present their programs and manifestos to the public and this
helps electorates choose the right set of national objectives.
d. Political Parties provide a forum for political participation for the citizens.
e. Political parties help to check the excesses of government e.g. opposing political
parties serve as watchdogs on the party in government. They do this by criticising
policies and actions they feel are not good by the party in power.
TYPES OF POLITICAL PARTIES
1. Mass Parties; in this type, members are drawn from all segments of society. they
could be rich or poor, educated or illiterate, male or female. they are mainly out
for the sole interest of the masses e.g. Labour Party.
2. Elite Parties; This is also known as a cadre party. They are usually composed
mainly of wealthy and influential professionals. Members of the party are mainly
selected.
3. Charismatic Or Personality Party; These are formed or led by individuals with
charisma. They revolve around the personal qualities of their leaders e.g. Action
Alliance by Rochas Okarocha and Fresh Democratic Party by Chris Okotie.
4. Broker Parties; This is a party formed by both the upper and lower classes of
society. Their main interest is to reconcile the conflicting interests of the rich and
the poor by carrying out policies of social justice for the interest of all.
PARTY SYSTEM
A Party System is a pattern of relationships among political parties in any given country.
It can be a pattern of relationship, interaction, co-existence, or competition among party
units, the definition may vary according to the number of parties in the country. party
systems is more relevant to countries that operate more than one party system
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTY AND PARTY SYSTEM .
Political Party Party system

1. It is an organised group of people who It is a type of political arrangement in

share similar political views and which political parties are permitted to
ideologies with the aim of governing operate for the purpose of forming a
government on a political basis.
the country.

2. They have constitutions that direct the The party system is used for elections
conduct of political activities in the to be conducted with ease in
country they exist and operate. modern-day politics.

TYPES OF PARTY SYSTEM

ONE PARTY SYSTEM; in this system, only one political party exists because either
the opposition party is forbidden or no other party emerges to compete with existing
political parties.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM
1. It provides an appropriate mechanism for mass mobilisation necessary to
develop undeveloped countries.
2. it can encourage and breed dictatorship, self-serving politics, and ultimate
repression. e.g. Korea, Workers Party of Korea, Angola-People’s Movement for
the Liberation of Angola (1975-91)
MERITS OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM.
1. It encourages national unity because it serves as a unity factor for sectional
interest.
2. party system provides for periodic elections which makes for a stable government
3. It has the advantage of being educated politically. of the electorate of a country
DEMERITS OF ONE PARTY SYSTEM.
1. it breeds partisan politics which displaces patriotism for party loyalty.
2. It leads to the neglect of some areas in a country especially, areas that failed to
vote for the party in power.
3. members of parliament vote mainly according to party directions instead of
voting according to their wishes.
TWO PARTY SYSTEM
Two party system is a system where only two political parties exist or are dominant in a
Political system. An example of dominant political parties can be seen in the United
States of America where only two parties dominate the legislative and executive arms of
government.
DEMERITS OF TWO PARTY SYSTEM
1. National and Political issues predominate and are Centralised because the system
does not take enough notice of local politics in the ward of village level.
2. Internal division and disagreements among party members make the system
unstable.
MULTI-PARTY SYSTEM
This system operates more than two political parties and reflects the various differences
within the society. The parties may develop in an orderly manner to ascertain the
growth or in a highly disorderly manner making it chaotic and unpredictable.
DEMERITS OF MULTI PARTY SYSTEM
1. This system ensures all differences in the political, economic, social, racial or
ethnic are represented and directed towards sustaining the political System.
2. The democratic freedoms of Choice in this political system are very high.
DEMERITS OF MULTI- PARTY SYSTEM
1. Because there are several political parties, they Make Some set of promises giving
rise to confusion in the electoral Systems.
2. It breeds competition among the various political parties which leads to political
instability especially in developing countries and attention is diverted from the
important goals of economic and social development.
 3. it carries with it an illusion of power sharing among the various political parties.

PRESSURE GROUPS
Pressure groups put actual or potential pressure on the decision makers. Pressure
groups are organised associations which seek to influence government decisions and
policies without attempting to contest elections to take over government.
This pressure aimed at the realisation of group and collective interest. Pressure groups
are also called interest groups. Examples of pressure groups include Bring Back our
Girls (BBOG) that is fighting for the interest and return of the Kidnapped Chibok girls.
TYPES OF PRESSURE GROUPS
1. Economic pressure Groups.
These group's focus on the well being of their members. They comprise mostly
producers and manufacturers. Their main goal is to protect the interest of their
members and the businesses they are involved in. Examples of Such include:
manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN)
2. Professional Or Occupational Groups
These can also be called associational pressure groups They embrace workers of the
same occupation or professional interest e.g. Nigerian Medical association (NMA),
Nigerian union of Teachers (NUT), Academic staff union of secondary schools (ASUSS),
Nigerian Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW). All these pressure groups act as a
representative for their members and they attend meetings and talk to the government
on behalf of its members.
3. Religious Pressure Groups:
These are pressure groups of people that belong to the same religion and wish to
influence government decisions in favour of their belief on members. E.g. Supreme
council of Islamic Affairs (SCAN), and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). These
pressure groups are used by the government and make dialogue with the religious
communities under the government jurisdiction.
4. Promotional Pressure Groups
These groups promote some causes which may not directly benefit their Members e.g.
Red Cross, and National Centres for Environmental Information (NCEI) Which is
Involved in gathering weather data and advising on weather related issues.
5. Anomic Pressure Groups
These Type of interest groups use violence demonstration, arson, assassinations, strikes
and the likes in expressing their aims and objectives. They are mob groups, street
demonstrations and student riot groups not well organised but they may be interested in
Some common goals.
6. Institutional Pressure Groups.
These exist in order to protect the interest of certain important institutions within the
society E.g. Nigerian army, Nigerian police, Police, Ministries and commissions etc.
7. Non Associational Pressure Groups
These are tribal groups which people become members merely by accident of birth e.g.
Hausa, Igbo, Efik, Yoruba e.t.c. However, in the inevitable struggle for resources of the
nation, individuals behave consciously or unconsciously as members of such groups.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PRESSURE GROUPS
1. Pressure groups depend on contributions from members through levies,
donations, and dues including support from other sources who appreciate their
cause to carry out their activities.
2. Their membership is limited by profession, location, religion or other common
interest and does not recruit Members
3. They are well organised and they have their branches coordinated from The
headquarters by effective leadership.
4. it protects the common interest of their members and not to take over
governance as political parties do.
FUNCTIONS OF PRESSURE GROUPS
1. The interest of their members is well protected and promoted by the group
2. They help educate their members and the whole society on their fundamental
human rights political rights on some governmental policies.
3. Economic stability of the country is promoted through their useful advice to
government on economic policies
4. They promote certain general welfare services.
PROBLEMS OF PRESSURE GROUPS
1. Insufficient funding
2. Problem of ineffective leadership
3. poor organisation
4. instability of government
These are some of the problems faced by pressure groups especially when the leadership
is ineffective and inexperienced.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRESSURE GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES
1. Political parties are most times larger than pressure groups; some political
parties have pressure groups within them seeking to shape policies.
2. While political parties seek to control government, pressure groups seek to only
influence governmental policies and decisions.
3. The purpose and goals of pressure groups is restricted to the interests of the
members while the goals and purpose of political parties embraces the interest of
the society.
4. The quantity and scope of membership of political parties is more ordered than
the quality and scope of pressure groups.
PUBLIC OPINION
Public opinion is what the members of the public feel and think about government
policies, plans or actions and policies. Public opinion guides democratic government. It
is this public opinion that can determine who wins elections, what actions or inactions,
the government takes e.t.c. Take for instance, it was the public opinion that made
former president Goodluck Jonathan to reverse the removal of fuel subsidy in January
2012. it was also Public opinion that created the #EndSARS protest which led to the
dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) during President Buhari’
government in 2020. Public opinion is a dynamic and constant part of governance.
FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION
1. Mass Media
Mass media includes Radio, television, film, newspapers, magazines etc. The mass
media can help create and form the opinion of the people. They can frame or portray the
news the way they want in order to persuade voters to vote a particular person or qive a
certain impression and perspective to situation- for example, if candidate A once
supported a bill that increased income taxes of citizens candidate B can sponsor the
mass media to say candidate A “does not care about the people especially the poor and
the middle class” Candidate B can sponsor these through headlines and thus can give
the People a different opinion that can influence the candidate they vote. Social media is
another form of mass media that can shape public opinion. People can form opinions
based on what they believe and can see as the prevalent opinion of the social media
group they identify with for example on facebook, tiktok or Instagram. This in some
cases can create a false vision where the perceived truth can actually be very far from the
actual truth.
2. Pressure Ground
These organised social groups employ direct and different methods in trying to
influence public opinion and government policies. This can be through religious
pressure groups creating an opinion for its members, institutional pressure groups,
promotional pressure groups e.t.c. An example is the Bring Back Our Girls group
(BBOG) Who have contributed greatly in giving people awareness of the kidnapping of
the Chibok girls. Some of us, especially those that do not watch the news, would not
have known about the Chibok girls if not because of how the group has succeeded in
raising mass awareness about the issue and have given us an opinion on the issue.
3. Political Parties
Using the guidelines and plans in their manifestos, Political parties have formed public
opinions through rallies, adverts and media campaigns etc.
Other ways of formation of public opinion includes opinion leaders, Gossips, rumours,
Social background, lectures, symposiums, e.t.c.
MEASUREMENT OF PUBLIC OPINION
a. Election:
Having a free and fair election and having people coming out to vote shows how the
public opinion of the people is. It shows that the people are well aware and what choices
they want to choose.
b. Opinion Polls
This is a method where sections of the public are selected to respond to questions on an
important issue. It can be through questionnaires, and online surveys through social
media channels. Buharimeter is an example of a tool used to measure public opinion.

c. Public Demonstration
Members of the public Sometimes respond to government policies and actions by mass
demonstrations with posters and placards showing what they feel or think. An example
is during the #EndSARS protest where there were mass demonstrations nationwide.
Other ways of measuring public opinion include ways of Measuring government
agencies, pressure groups, Opinion leaders, mass media and press, e.t.c.
IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC OPINION
1. Public opinion is a very good channel of communication between rulers and the
ruled. it 1s very essential in the modern day political process.
2. The desires and wishes of the people can be expressed and heard by the
government.
3. It stimulates and encourages easy execution of government policies
4. It creates a balance in governance to avoid tyranny in government it gives room
for healthy opposition in government
5. Public opinion can be an effective way of Strengthening or weakening societal
institutions or practices.
ELECTION
Election is the process of choosing candidates who will represent the people in various
leadership positions of government.
PURPOSES OF ELECTIONS
1. Elections help to ascertain and reveal the preferences and opinions of the
electorates.
2. Elections create the opportunity for the people to choose leaders in government.
3. Elections create a situation where those elected are accountable to the
government. It makes elected leaders accountable and responsible in running the
affairs of government.
4. Elections are supposed to ensure the best are elected into public office
FEATURES OF ELECTION
1. Absence of compulsion through the use of force, Intimidation or breaks at any
stage in the electoral process
2. Impartiality on the part of those charged with the administration and conduct of
elections.
 3. The acceptance of the principle of one man, one vote so that one individual's vote
doesn't count more than others.
4. Neutrality and fairness on the part of the incumbent government or
administration.
STAGES OF ELECTION
1. setting up of the electoral Commission.
2. Electoral acts: Rules and regulations to govern the conduct of elections.
3. Registration of political parties.
4. Planning and logistics
5. Registration of voters
6. Display of voters lists
7. launching of Political campaigns
8. conduct of elections
9. filling of election petitions.
10. Election result
SUFFRAGE AND FRANCHISE
This can be referred to as the rights of qualified adult citizens of a given society to vote
and be voted for in an election. Every country has an electoral law which clearly states
the qualifications of electorates and those to be elected.
Enfranchisement is the way each citizen fulfils the conditions or law that make him/her
eligible as a voter. Those that vote are called the electorates and those seeking to be
elected are called candidates. The right to vote and be noted for vary from country to
country based on certain criterias.
DEVELOPMENT OF SUFFRAGE AND FRANCHISE
Voting rights were usually fought for because voters were not always given privilege to
vote as citizens of a country. For instance, Till the early twentieth century, women were
denied voting rights in Britain and America. This resulted in the formation of the
suffrage movement in 1897 by British women to fight for the right of women to vote.
This movement eventually won the voting rights for women to also vote in elections.
In Nigeria, the right to vote was developed during the colonial period when elections in
Lagos and Calabar were based on property, educational qualification and the social
status of a Citizen. Those were the criteria that determined who could vote and be for.
Franchise (a right or privilege, especially the right to vote) was broadened to
accommodate all qualified adult Citizens. This made franchise to be known as the
Universal franchise.
Several stages involved in the evolution of suffrage includes;
1. Membership of some bodies or associations
2. lowering of property qualifications.
3. acceptance of the idea of manhood suffrage.
4. Extension of the franchise to women.
5. Lowering of the age qualification.
TYPES OF SUFFRAGE AND FRANCHISE
Two main types of suffrage and franchise are
a. limited or restricted suffrage
b. universal or unlimited suffrage.
Limited Or Restricted Suffrage
This refers to the right of only a section of the community to vote and he voted for this
right to be enjoyed only by citizens who fulfilled what the relevant law demands. This
can be in terms of sex, age, property ownership and educational qualification.
Universal Suffrage
This refers to the right of all qualified adults to vote and be voted for this type of suffrage
is unlimited except in respect of those excluded by law on account of insanity, doubt full
moral standing, being alien e.t.c.
PURPOSE OF SUFFRAGE AND FRANCHISE
The purpose of suffrage/franchise are relevant to the political process in at least three
important areas;
1. Elections into public office and removal of public office holders.
2. Referendum: This refers to a lawful process in which voters can accept or reject a
proposal or issue. In most cases of referendum, laws are directly made by the
people through their elected representatives in the legislature.
3. Plebiscite; This is a type of government to change the constitution of a country.
SIMPLE MAJORITY SYSTEM.
The System is also referred to as the plurality system. It is the system in which the
candidate with the highest number of votes cast is declared winner no matter proportion
of votes scored during an election. The vote does not have to be in absolute majority.
MERITS OF SIMPLE MAJORITY SYSTEM
Some of the advantages of simple majority system includes:
1. The system is easy to operate
2. It produces a clear winner in the election
3. it is cheaper to practise
4. Usually two main parties ultimately emerge making the electorate's choice more
focused.
DEMERITS OF SIMPLE MAJORITY SYSTEM
Some of the disadvantages of simple majority includes;
1. The number of seats secured in the legislature may not reflect the volume of votes
of the parties.
2. smaller parties have little chances of winning elections and are gradually
eliminated.
3. the winner of an election may score a very small proportion of the votes and may
not represent the choice of the people.
4. Electoral candidates usually come from major constituencies e.g. large ethnic
groups, the minorities are therefore neglected.
ABSOLUTE MAJORITY SYSTEM
This system refers to the ability of the winning candidate to acquire more than half of
the total votes cast; in other words, his vote is more than 50% half of all the other
candidates' votes.
The basic merit of this method is that it leads to the emergence of a clear cut winner.
This electoral system however has the possibility of leading to totalitarian rule.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEM

In this System, each Political party is given a number of seats in parliament according to
the proportion of votes received during the general election. The party with the highest
votes will therefore have the largest number of seats while other parties will also have
seats according to the strength of their support by the electorate.
MERITS OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
1. It gives room for the minority parties to be represented.
2. There is no waste of votes as all votes are useful.
3. It is very democratic because parties are represent on the basis of popularity
DEMERITS OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION
1. Minority parties representing Sectional interest are encouraged to participate in
politics.
2. Government may not find it easy to pass its bill's through parliament if its party
does not Control a large proportion of seats.
3. The system is not easy to run because of complex ballot calculations and the
usual large number of parties the system encourages.
DIRECT SYSTEM
Direct system is a process by which the electorates of a country vote directly to elect
their representatives in either the executive or legislative arm. A major importance of
this system is that it offers citizens the opportunity of choosing their leaders directly
through election. It makes elected representatives responsive, responsible and
accountable to the electorate. This helps to create a strong rapport between the voters
and elected representatives.
INDIRECT SYSTEM
This is a process of election in which the representatives of the people, in the parliament
elect leaders for the people. In this case, the people's choice can easily be manipulated if
the representatives can be bought. It encourages lobbying and can easily breed
corruption.
ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
This is a body charged with the responsibility of organising or conducting free and fair
elections in a country. The first electoral commission in Nigeria was in the 2nd republic
and it was called the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO). In the 3rd republic, the
National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) was the commission in charge of
elections. The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) started in the fourth republic.
The Commission is usually headed by a chairman appointed by the government. The
commission is the final judge in an election within the legal constitution backing to carry
out its functions. The appointment of members of the commission is for a period of
time.
ROLES /FUNCTIONS OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
1. The electoral commission divides the country into constituencies.
2. it registers eligible voters for elections
3. It screens and registers political parties
4. it appoints and trains electoral officers
5. Election results are announced by the commission
6. it enlightens and educates the electorates about the election process.
7. It disburses government financial grants to political parties
8. It arranges for the auditing of the accounts of Political parties.
PROBLEMS OF FACING ELECTORAL COMMISSION
1. Political manipulations by the incumbent government which may want to
influence the outcome of elections.
2. Parties, candidates and voters with electoral malpractice tendencies.
3. The problem of Substandard communication transport network because of
inadequate logistics.
ELECTORAL OFFICIALS
1. Chief national electoral Commissioner as chairman
2. A member from each state of the federation who are state electoral
commissioners
3. Eight other members appointed on individual merit
4. Executive Secretary-responsible for the day-to-administration of the
commission.
5. Electoral officers- issues voter cards, oversees all electoral activities and reports
to state electoral commissioners.
6. Registration officers- compile and maintain voters registration and are in charge
of displaying the voter register.
7. Returning officers and assistants- conducts elections and announces results,
counts votes.
8. presiding officers- they are in charge of polling stations and answer to the
returning officer.
9. Polling clerks- they take notes, accounts and keep records of the polling unit
activities.
10. Registration Agents- party agents that are appointed by the party to monitor
registration of voters. They also help in registration and report to the registration
officers.
11. polling agents- they are appointed by the candidates as party agents to monitor
polling units.
12. counting agents- party agents and representatives that monitor and confirm
counting votes after elections on their party’s behalf.