The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) was formed by Herbert Macaulay in 1923 thus becoming the first party in Nigeria and British West Africa. The party was formed to tight the Oluwa land case and to contest the three seats allocated to Lagos on the Legislative Council by the Clifford Constitution of 1922.

In a parliamentary system, a clear distinction is made between the head of  state and the head of government (Prime Minister), a executive and the executive. Here, the head of the state, King or Queen in Britain or President in India, possesses nominal or titular authority whereas the real authority rests with the government of which the Prime Minister is the head.