The following factors motivated the formation and growth of political parties in British West African territories except

Analyze the question: This is an "except" question. Four options helped motivate the formation and growth of political parties in British West Africa, and we must find the one that did not.

Concept: In British West Africa (Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, Gambia), political parties emerged mainly in the 1920s-1950s. Key motivating factors included:

• External socio-political factors: The effects of World War II, the Atlantic Charter, the independence of India, the Pan-African movement, and the influence of Africans educated abroad (Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah). (A) motivated parties.
• Improvement in communication: Roads, railways, telegraph and postal services let nationalists travel, meet, and spread their ideas across the territory. (B) motivated parties.
• Role of newspapers: The West African Pilot, Daily Times, Gold Coast Independent and others spread nationalist ideas and mobilised people. (D) motivated parties.
• Membership of the legislative council: This is a result or opportunity created by the colonial constitutions (e.g., the Clifford Constitution of 1922, which introduced elective seats in Lagos and Calabar). Parties like the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) were actually formed to contest those elective seats. Membership itself was not a motivating factor. It was the elective principle and the chance to contest seats that stimulated parties. Also, the legislative councils were largely dominated by colonial officials and nominated members, so membership as such did not drive party formation.

Step-by-step elimination:

1. A: external influences, a genuine motivator, so eliminate.
2. B: better communication, a genuine motivator, so eliminate.
3. D: newspapers, a genuine motivator, so eliminate.
4. C: membership of the legislative council was not a motivating factor in itself, so it is the exception.

Answer: C. Membership of legislative council

Exam tip: For "except" questions, test each option individually and cross out the ones that are clearly true. The odd one out is your answer. For nationalism topics, remember the usual drivers: newspapers, WWII, education, communication, and external influences.