Question 5
(a) Identify three basic ways which people participate in a democracy.
(b) In what three ways is political participation beneficial to the democratic process in Nigeria.
Observation
This was another popular question and many of the candidates who answered it did not performed very well. Only few understood it demands. They misinterpreted the question and gave wrong answers resulting in low marks. The candidates were expected to give the following points as their answers.
- By voting
- Express opinion for or against government policies
- Contesting elections
- Participate in political discourses/discussions
- Engaging elected political representatives through writing letters, emails, phone calls etc.
- Participating in organized protests
- Participating in a voluntary political organization
- Attending political rallies/party event/press conferences/party workshops
- Finance/contribute funds to activities of political parties
- Buying air time to advance the electoral chances of their political parties
- Serving as party agents during elections
- By holding political office
(b)
- Ensures ownership of political/development process
- Acceptance of the political system
- Increases democratic legitimacy
- Improves governance
- Promotes confidence in the political process of the state
- Enhances greater capacity building and learning
- Provides bases for political socialization
- Engenders patriotism
- Enhances greater social cohesion
- Strengthens public policy making skills
- Improves quality of services, projects and programmes
- It helps prevent dictatorship
- It enhances accountability and responsibility
- Peaceful transitions from one administration to the other