Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary 3

Term: 2^nd Term

Week: 1

Class: Senior Secondary School 3

Age: 17 years

Duration: 40 minutes of 2 periods each

Date:       

Subject:      Government

Topic:-       Electoral crisis in Nigeria

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

(a)Define Electoral Processes

(b)Explain the Federal Election Of 1964

(c)Highlight the Western Nigeria Electoral crisis Of 1965

(d)Explain the General election of 1979

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: Identification, explanation, questions and answers, demonstration, videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Videos, loud speaker, textbook, pictures

INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES

PERIOD 1-2

NOTE

ELECTORAL CRISIS
FEDERAL ELECTION CRISES OF 1964

One crisis that shook the foundation of Nigeria and threatened the unity of the country was the crisis that arose from the general election of 1964.

The federal election witnessed the formation of alliances by both the major and minor political parties. For instance, factions of A.G. and NCNC together with the Northern progressive front made up of NEPU-Northern Element Progressive United, Middle Belt Congress, joined together to form the United Progressive Grand Aliance(UPGA) under the leadership of Dr M.I. Okpara on June 3,1964.

On August 20 1964, the NPC, NNDR the Mid-Western Democratic Front (MDF) and the Dynamic Party formed the Nigeria National Aliance(NNA) under the leadership of the Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello. As the electioneering campaign commenced all sorts of crude and obnoxious methods were employed as campaign strategies. UPGA candidates complained of their inability to file nomination papers in the Northern and Western Regions controlled by the NPC and NNDP. Electoral officers were reported to be absent when UPGA candidates wanted to file their nomination papers. A delegation of UPGA met with the president protesting their grievances and that if not redressed, they would boycott the election. President Nnamdi Azikiwe requested the Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, to postpone the election. However, the request was rejected by the prime minister. The election still held on December 30, 1964. Members of the UPGA in different parts of the country boycotted the election. Elections took place in Northern and Western Regions, some parts of Mid-West and Lagos, but it did not take place at all in the Eastern Regions.

The outcome of the election was favourable to the NNA. The president declared on January 1, 1965, that he found it awkward to exercise his constitutional duty of calling on the winning party leader to form a new government. There was a deadlock and for three days there was no government at the federal level. This forced some prominent Nigerians like the chief Justice of the federation to intervene. At last, the president invited the out-going Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a member of NNA who promised to form a broad-based government. The government was made up of members of NCNC but no single member of the Action Group was included in the cabinet.

WESTERN NIGERIA ELECTION CRISIS OF 1965

With the emergence of United Progressive Grand Aliance(UPGA) and the Nigeria National Aliance(NNA) as the two dominant parties through coalitions, the rivalry between them at the national level shifted base to the Western Nigeria election of 1965. The A.G. represented(UPGA) and NNDP (NNA). Both of them saw this election as very important and should not be under-estimated. Before the commencement of the election, the party in power in Western Nigeria, The NNDP imposed a curfew and some other stringent measures aimed at frustrating the efforts of UPGA members in some part of the regions. With the dissolution of the Western House of Assembly preparatory to the elections, the irregularities that featured at the federal elections manifested. For instance, UPGA candidates were not privileged or opportune to collect nomination forms and in most cases, electoral officers would be absent at their duty posts. The electioneering campaign was also characterized by acts of thuggery, hooliganism, kiling,  arson and looting. The petition Alhaji D.S. Adegbenro who was the leader of UPGA sent to the Governor Sir Odeleye Fadahunsi about the malpractices did not yield any result. The election which took place on October 11, 1965, in an atmosphere characterized by many electoral malpractices such as Smuggling of ballot boxes and, burning opponents ballot boxes and unfair counting of votes. At the end of the election, it was announced that NNDP won 88 out of the 98 seats contested.

In a counter-reaction, Alhaji Adegbenro summoned a press conference at Ibadan in the house of jailed Chief Awolowo in which he announced that UPGA won 68 out of the 98 seats. He pronounced himself as the premier of the region and appointed eight ministers of his cabinet. With two governments in the same region, the stage was therefore set for a serious political crisis. At last, Chief Akintola was sworn in as the Premier of the region while Alhaji Adegbenro was arrested. As a result of all these heavens was let loose for violent demonstrations, chaos, rioting and a complete breakdown of law and order in the Western region. It was reported that about 1,000 people lost their lives and about 5,000 houses were burnt down while the newly elected premier took to his heels and went into hiding. The political crisis continued until January15,1966 coup d'etat that put it to a stop.

GENERAL ELECTION CRISIS OF 1979

The 1979 general elections were unique because they took place under the

newly introduced federal system of government. The elections that ushered

in Nigeria’s second republic after 13 solid years of the military government.

Before the elections, the Federal Electoral Commission(FEDECO) headed by Chief Michael Aril had registered five political parties out of about 52 political associations that emerged when the ban on political associations was lifted. The registered political parties were, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria(UPN), Nigeria People's Party(NPP),Great Nigeria People's Party(GNPP) and People's Redemption Party(PRP).The chairman of NPN was Chief A.M.A. Akinloye while Alhaji Shehu Shagari was its presidential candidate. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the national leader and the presidential candidate of UPN. The chairman of NPN was Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was the presidential candidate. Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri and Mallam Amino Kano were the leaders and presidential candidates of GNPP and PRP respectively. Five different elections took place between July 7 and August 18, 1979 on different five Saturdays. For the senate, July 7,House of Representatives July 14,State

Assemblies July 21, Governorship July 28 and presidential August 11, 1979.

In the election Into the senate, out of a total of 95, NPN won 36 seats, UPN 29, NPP16, GNPP 8 and PRP 7. The most controversial election of all the elections was the presidential election. The controversy arose as a result of the fact that none of the candidates was able to win 25 in two-thirds of the federation. Alhaji Shehu Shagari who was eventually declared the winner won 25% of the votes cast in12 states of the federation. The mathematical riddle that arose was what should be 12, 2/3of19. The NPN formula of 12, 2/3 was accepted by FEDECO and Alhaji Shehu Shagari was declared the winner. Chief Awolowo who came second took the Presidential Election Tribunal, headed by JusticeB.0.Kazeem and later to the Supreme Court presided over by the then Chief Justice of the federation Justice Atanda Williams and all declared that the election of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was in order.

EVALUATION:    1. Discuss

1. the federal electoral crisis of 1964
2. the western region electoral crisis of 1965
3. the general election in 1979

CLASSWORK: As in evaluation

CONCLUSION: The teacher commends the students positively