Question 10
(a). List three sources of finance for the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
(b). Outline four successes attained by the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
Observation
This was a very popular question. The candidates performed averagely well in it. Although, the question is simple and clear, some candidates misunderstood the (b) part of the question, wrote on functions of political parties and lost good marks. The candidates were expected to provide the following as answers to the question.
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- Subscription fees / annual dues / levies from members of the party.
- Nomination form and filing fees.
- Fund raising by the party.
- Loans approved by the National Executive Committees.
- Proceeds from investments made by the party.
- Gifts and grants by individuals or groups of individuals as authorized by law.
- Donations either in cash or kind.
- Sales of membership cards and emblems.
- Allocations of funds from federal Electoral Commission.
- Special levies from members of the party either elected or appointed.
- Allocation of funds from Federal Electoral Commission.
- Special levies from members of the party elected or appointed
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- The party was the first to be formed after the ban on political activities was lifted, in 1978.
- The party dominated the political scene in Western part of Nigeria until the coup of 1983.
- The party pursued its free education programme in the states it controlled.
- It provided free medical facilities in all the states it controlled.
- The party promoted fiscal discipline in the states it controlled.
- Through its political campaign and other activities, the party aroused national consciousness.
- The party unpredictably won the governorship election in the Kwara State in 1983.
- The party acted as a strong opposition to the ruling NPN between 1979 and 1983.
- The party encouraged greater political participation.
- It had the second largest number of legislators in both the Upper and Lower Houses at the center.
- It came second in the presidential elections of both 1979 and 1983.
- It helped in good governance and development of democracy through its constant constructive criticisms and observations.
- The party’s impact was greatly felt on agriculture e.g. in the resuscitation of farm settlement