There is always a certain motive to be achieved when a group of people come together. Indeed, this has been particularly helpful because it gives room for unity of purpose. Be that as it may, a pressure group is formed to influence the government and political parties in taking certain decisions that always favor it. In other words, a pressure group is organized with a view to lobbying the power that be so as to enjoy certain benefits [1].

Typologies of Pressure Groups

There are various types of pressure groups among which are but not limited to as opined by LucaB., et al. [1]:

• Interest groups: These groups are basically formed owing to a particular self-interest. For instance, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Trade Union in Nigeria is known as Nigerian Labour Congress (N.L.C), Market Women, West Africa Students Union (WASU) etc. They do influence the government to yield to the demands of their members

• Occupational pressure groups: There are some pressure groups that are formed owing to the fact that the members belong to similar occupation with the objectives of fighting for the improved conditions for their members. e.g. Nigerian Union of Teachers (N.U.T), Academics Staff Union of University (ASUU), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Nurses and Midwifes Association

• Religious pressure groups: members of religious sects might come together with the aspirations of improving the conditions for themselves. Religious group may therefore be formed for the protection members’ interest

• Promotional group: These groups are usually formed to seek the promotion of certain policies of government which may not bring direct benefits to members. For example; there was abolition of slavery movement in 19^th century in Great Britain. In Nigeria, we have committee on national awareness and this group fights against injustice to citizens of Nigeria. There might be the society for the mentally retarded individuals to seek the better conditions for its members

Functions or Roles of Pressure Groups

Pressure groups perform the following functions among others according to LucaB., et al. [1]. 

• Economic stability: Some of the groups promote economic stability of the country. For example, the chambers of commerce are concerned with promoting business in Nigeria

• Welfare services: A times, some pressure groups may promote certain welfare services. For instance, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has made it possible for the poor to enjoy free legal services in court cases

• Education on political rights: some pressure groups help to educate the masses on their both human and political rights

• Acts as a check on abuse of power: pressure groups help to check misrule and mal-administration. e.g. the Acheampong’s military administration in Chana was opposed by the professional groups in the country during the period

• Public policy monitoring: Pressure groups equally acts as watch-dogs over public policy and government in between elections during the voters are rendered powerless. They can fight for the interest of the minority groups in the society and also prevent any form of injustice and illegal steps that government may want to take against the masses

• Acts as a link between the government and the people: Pressure groups also serves as a channel of link between the government and the people. The government may be able to have appropriate feedback consequent upon the activities of the pressure groups

• Advisory body: Pressure groups act as advisory bodies and may therefore offer suggestions for good governance with a view to developing the society

 Strategies of Pressure Groups in Achieving Their Aims and Objectives

Pressure groups may adopt the following steps among others to attain their desires as suggested by Egwemi and Somodia [2].

• Strikes: The occupational pressure groups may resort to strikes to press home their demands from the government. E.g Nigerian Union of Teachers (N.U.T), Academics Staff Union of University (ASUU), Medical officers etc.

• Demonstrations: Some pressure groups may engage in demonstration like Students Union. The West Africa Students Union (WASU) demonstrated and fought for the freedom of Africa countries from the Whites

• Campaigns: Pressure groups may adopt public campaigns to influence public opinion. For instance, campaigns against HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, are mounted by some pressure groups to seek sound health for the society

• Lobbying: Pressure groups may lobby the members of the legislative house(s) to pass bills in its favour. They may go ahead to influence the policy of the government on certain important issues

• Round table negotiation: This is a situation whereby the membership of pressure groups engages in discussion and negotiation with the stakeholders or government on how to achieve their desires 

The Challenges of Pressure Groups

The following problems have been identified as challenges of pressure group according to [3]: Lack of funds; Corruption; Personal interest; Unorganized priority; Bias; Partisan politics; Tribalism and ethnic coloration; Uncooperating and lackadaisical attitude of members; Government intervention/inference; Divide and rule technique and so on. Some of these challenges are discussed for the understanding of the reading public.

• Lack of fund: One of the fundamental challenges that confront pressure group globally is the absence of finance. This usually affects pressure group in having similar voice while agitating for or against any government policy and decisions

• Corruption: It has been found out that corruption affects nearly every part of the society. Indeed, it has worked against the smooth running of government programs and policies for which the masses ought to have benefitted

• Unorganized priority: Most often than not, pressure group members do allow their personal interest to override the general interest of the society

• Partisan politics: It is discovered that majority of members do engage in partisan politics which is not good for the effective administration of the group

• Tribalism and ethnic coloration: Since membership is not restricted to a particular tribe or ethnic make-up, there is the tendency for members to become tribalistic in their operation thereby challenging efficiency and effectiveness of the group

Political Party 

A Political party is an organized group within a country with the aim of gaining political power so as to control the reign of government. According to [3] a political party may refer to a voluntary organized group of dedicated individuals with similar political ideology. They nominate the candidates, contest elections and win power over the government. It is commonly juxtaposed with pressure groups which imply collection of like-minded people, who come together to promote and defend a common objective, by continuously striving to influence the decision of the government.

Reasons for The Establishment of Political Parties

Various reasons are advanced for the setting up of political parties. Some of which are as outlined by Egwemi and Somodia [2]:

• Winning of elections: It is the prime intention of every political party to win election so as to control the reign of government

• Appointments: Once a political party wins election, the onus is on it to appoint its members into different offices

• Clarification of issues among members: Another reason for the formation of political party is that it provides avenue to clarify issues within the party 

• Provision of information on their candidates: It is expected of political parties to market their candidates for election

• Unite people together: Irrespective of their ethnic background to tackle nation’s challenges: e.g. People Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Congress (APC). Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), People Redemption Party (PRP)

• Education of people on how to vote and why they should vote: Political parties provide political awareness for their teeming followers

• Provision of an organization capable of running a government: There is always internal mechanism within the party that ensures the party administer by providing good governance for the citizens

Essentials of Political Parties

Political parties are essential for many reasons. Burhanettin [4] identified the following: 

• Recruiting of leaders for elective offices: Political parties do recruit their members from the society and train them for future art of governance and training of young politicians in the art of government

• Drawing of programmers to be implemented for the electorates: The manifestos of the party are an essential part of the formation of political party. Through it, the society is aware of the plans of the party for effective governance

• Education of the electorates on how to vote and why they should vote

• Provision of a forum or a machinery through which many people could participate in government

• A link between the government and the people: Political party acts as link between the citizens and the government. Feedback is provided for good governance. This could foster political interest and issues in the citizens via rallies, debates, symposia and lectures

• Agents of change and modernization: political party provides change capable of providing advancement and development such as free education, abolition of tribal marks, etc.

• Implementation of government policies: Political parties are essential for the implementation of government policies and decisions e.g. population census-enumeration exercise

• Provision of welfare services for party members: The political parties are also essential in terms of provision of welfare services for their members. Like provision of job opportunity. Social scheme empowerment for members etc.

Factors Determining the Electoral Success of Political Parties

In the words of Burhanettin [4], the following factors can determine the electoral success of any political parties: Broad base membership; Strong financial base; Regular rallies, seminars and meetings; Effective organization within the party; Provision of political education through the establishment of other institutions; like Youth wing, women wing ,workers; wing etc: Effective propaganda; Effective leadership; Party discipline; Good manifestoes/ programs; Encouragement of party patronage: giving contracts to members, appointing members to man various posts/positions. Some of these factors are clarified for purpose of having in dept understanding of this study.

• Effective propaganda: For political party to succeed in any contest, there must be effective campaign organization within the party that comprise women wing, youth wing, and council of elders

• Effective leadership: Leadership of the party must be such that include knowledge and intelligent elderly ones within the party who would always be prepared to uphold and defend the tenets of the party at all the time

• Party discipline: Where there is no will, there is no way. For any party to succeed, it must have a central working committee that dispels discipline to any erring members

• Good manifestoes/ programmers: Party manifesto that outlines the plans of the party of the party for the public is an added opportunity for it to succeed always

• Provision of political education through the establishment of other institutions; like Youth Wing, Women Wing, Workers Wing, and so on

Major Difference Between Pressure Groups And Political Parties

Pressure groups and political parties are different from each other on the basis of their characteristics as discussed in this study. Indeed, both political parties and pressure groups are a structured group of people, which are directly or indirectly related to the political system of a country. However, they are different in the sense that pressure groups are confined to a particular domain, i.e. “workers” only. On the other hand, a political party has no such limitation, and so any person can join, the party of their choice [1].

The major objective of any political party is to win elections and control the government. But the pressure groups’ desire is only to influence the government’s policy and decisions.

Political parties express their views on any matters bothering on the public while the pressure groups express their views on issues concerning their members or narrows objective only.

Political parties are coherently organized with a leader, discipline, rules and regulations, a fag and a symbol, executive officers etc. Whereas pressure groups may not necessarily have all the characteristics mentioned in favor of the political parties.

The membership of political parties is open to all citizens. While the membership of the pressure groups is limited to its members alone. For example the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Trade Union, Nigerian Labour Congress (N.L.C), Market Women, West Africa Students Union (WASU), Nigerian Union of Teachers (N.U.T), Academics Staff Union of University (ASUU).Their membership is restricted to them only.

CHARACTERISTICS OFPRESSURE GROUPS AND POLITICAL PARTIES.

• Political party members are grouped into committees to implement the decisions of the party at all levels while the pressure group might not necessarily need the formation of the committees

• Members of any political party is not characterized with the expectation of getting salaries, allowances, and remuneration while membership of the pressure group get salaries, allowances, and remunerations due to the professionalism of their field

• Political party members do not necessarily go on leave while members of the pressure group do go on terminal leave, leave of absence as the case may be

• Members of the pressure group adopt some mechanism in actualizing their aims and objectives. For example, strike, protest, round table conferences while political party members do not necessarily engage in demonstrations

Politics of political parties and pressure group always aims at promoting good governance especially during democratic dispensation. This is because both pressure groups and political parties are a structured group of people, which are directly or indirectly related to the political system of a country as earlier identified in this study. It is therefore not out of place to conclude that pressure group and political parties’ foster development in terms of good governance

1. LucaB., et al. “Challenges of Political Participation and Intra-Party Democracy: Bittersweet Symphony from Party Membership and Primary Elections in Italy.” ResearchGate, 2016, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297896287_Challenges_of_political_participation_and_intraparty_democracy_Bittersweet_symphony_from_party_membership_and_primary_elections_in_Italy

2. Egwemi, V., and S.M.Omodia. “Party Politics and the Challenge of Political Representation in Nigeria.” International Journal of Business and Social Science, vol. 2, no. 22, 2011.

3. AnnaB. “How Can Political Parties Adapt to New Challenges and Reconnect with Citizens?” International IDEA, Stockholm, Sweden, 27 September 2016.

4. BurhanettinD. “Political Parties Face Challenges and Advantages Ahead of Elections.” Daily Sabah Columns, 23 April 2018.