Provision of political education through rallies and newspapers is a function of _________

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which body provides political education through rallies and newspapers. Rallies and party-owned newspapers are classic tools of mass political communication.

Step 2: Explain the concept Political parties perform several key functions in a democracy:

• Contesting elections and forming the government
• Aggregating and articulating public interests
• Recruiting and nominating candidates
• Political education/mobilisation: they enlighten citizens about their rights, government policies, and the electoral process through rallies, campaigns, manifestos, posters, radio/TV adverts, and newspapers.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Political parties: Correct. They organise rallies, publish manifestos and run party newspapers to educate and mobilise voters. In Nigeria's history, examples include the West African Pilot (associated with the NCNC) and the Daily Service (associated with the Action Group).
• B. Pressure groups: They seek to influence government policy on specific interests (e.g., NLC, ASUU, NBA). They may sometimes educate the public, but their primary role is lobbying, not mass political education tied to winning elections.
• C. Educated elite: This is a social category, not an institution with the formal function of rallies and newspapers.
• D. The clergy: Their main role is religious and moral guidance, not political education.

Step 4: Answer The best answer is A. political parties.

Exam tip: Link keywords to the institution. Rallies, campaigns, manifestos, elections point to political parties. Lobbying, strikes, petitions, protecting members' interests point to pressure groups.