The Political Research Division has the statutory functions of evaluating, analyzing and articulating (PRD) political trends within and outside Nigeria and packaging policy options to aid in advising the government on what to do in relations to the whole spectrum of political arena. 

Principally, the Division collects, collates, analyses and makes recommendations on political reports received from other relevant Government functionaries, especially, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Special adviser to Mr. President on Political Matters, the Special Services Offices, OSGF, to mention a few. The Division also deals with other ad-hoc duties that may be assigned to it by the Permanent Secretary. It has a standardized Library dedicated to research which needs to be updated with modern publications.

The Division has the following functions:

• It processes and handles public petitions, papers, suggestions and reports of political nature to the government from individuals, organizations, institutions, companies etc within and outside the country;
• It relates with the under-listed bodies and agencies in the implementation of their functions: Independent national Electoral Commission, (INEC), Federal Character Commission, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, etc;
• It monitors elections at both National and International Levels, in conjunction with the former Ministry of Integration and Cooperation in Africa. However, for the past three years when the Ministry was merged with Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Political Affairs Office has not been engaged in any election monitoring. Efforts are now being initiated to reinstate this schedule, by networking with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Independent National Electoral Commission; and
• Any other assignment by the Permanent Secretary.