What is 1979 general elections crisis?

1979 General Elections Crisis — Government Keypoint

1979 General Elections Crisis: The political dispute that arose after Nigeria’s first democratic elections following 13 years of military rule. The controversy centered on whether Alhaji Shehu Shagari won the presidential election legally, particularly the interpretation of “two-thirds of 19 states” requirement, which Chief Obafemi Awolowo challenged in court.

Quick Summary

First elections after 1966-1979 military rule, held under new 1979 Constitution
Five political parties competed: NPN, UPN, NPP, GNPP, and PRP
Main crisis: dispute over 12⅔ states formula for presidential victory
Shagari won but UPN Awolowo challenged result in Supreme Court
Court upheld Shagari victory, setting precedent for Nigerian democracy

Background to the Crisis

After 13 years of military rule (1966-1979), General Olusegun Obasanjo military government organized Nigeria return to civilian rule. The new 1979 Constitution replaced the parliamentary system with an American-style presidential system.

The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), headed by Chief Michael Ani, conducted the elections in July and August 1979. Five political parties participated: National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Nigerian People Party (NPP), Great Nigerian People Party (GNPP), and People Redemption Party (PRP).

Elections for Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly were conducted peacefully. However, the presidential election on August 11, 1979 sparked a major constitutional crisis.

The Presidential Election Results

Candidate	Party	Total Votes	States Won
Alhaji Shehu Shagari	NPN	5,688,857 (33.8%)	12 states fully + 25% in Kano
Chief Obafemi Awolowo	UPN	4,916,651 (29.2%)	5 states
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe	NPP	2,822,523 (16.8%)	2 states
Aminu Kano	PRP	1,732,113 (10.3%)	0 states
Waziri Ibrahim	GNPP	1,686,489 (10.0%)	0 states

The Constitutional Crisis: 12⅔ States Controversy

The 1979 Constitution stated that to win the presidency, a candidate must obtain:

The highest number of votes cast
At least 25% of votes in two-thirds of all states

With 19 states in Nigeria at that time, two-thirds meant 12.67 states. The question was: how do you calculate two-thirds of 19?

FEDECO interpretation: Two-thirds of 19 equals 12⅔. They declared Shagari won because he got 25% of votes in 12 complete states plus one-quarter of the required 25% in Kano state (making 12¼ states).

Awolowo argument: Two-thirds of 19 should be rounded up to 13 states. Since Shagari only won 12 complete states, he did not meet the constitutional requirement. A run-off election should be held between the top two candidates.

The Supreme Court Case

Chief Obafemi Awolowo challenged FEDECO decision in the Electoral Tribunal, which ruled against him. He then appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in a split decision (6-1), ruled that:

FEDECO correctly interpreted the two-thirds requirement
12⅔ states means 12 full states plus at least two-thirds of the remaining state
Shagari 12 states plus 25% in Kano exceeded the minimum requirement
No run-off election was necessary

Justice Aniagolu gave the only dissenting judgment, agreeing with Awolowo interpretation.

Main Issues in the Crisis

1. FEDECO Credibility: Many Nigerians questioned whether FEDECO acted independently or favored the NPN, which had support from northern military leaders.

2. Mathematical Interpretation: The debate exposed a flaw in the Constitution. How can you win two-thirds of an odd number of states? This mathematical problem caused confusion.

3. Regional Tensions: The crisis deepened Nigeria regional divisions. NPN had strong support in the North, UPN in the West, and NPP in the East. Each region felt the others wanted to dominate.

4. Military Handover Pressure: The military government wanted to hand over power on October 1, 1979. This tight deadline pressured the courts to decide quickly.

5. Democratic Legitimacy: Opposition parties questioned whether Shagari had enough popular support to govern effectively, since he won only 33.8% of votes.

Resolution and Aftermath

Despite losing in court, Chief Awolowo accepted the Supreme Court decision. This showed respect for the rule of law and helped prevent violence.

On October 1, 1979, General Obasanjo handed over power to President Shehu Shagari, marking Nigeria Second Republic. However, the controversy damaged public confidence in FEDECO and the electoral process.

The 12⅔ formula remained controversial. When the 1983 elections produced similar disputes, military coup plotters used electoral fraud as justification for overthrowing Shagari government on December 31, 1983.

Significance for Nigerian Democracy

Judicial independence: The Supreme Court proved it could decide politically sensitive cases
Peaceful transition: Despite controversy, power moved from military to civilian rule without violence
Constitutional amendment: Later constitutions tried to clarify the two-thirds formula
Electoral reform: The crisis showed need for truly independent electoral bodies
Political maturity: Awolowo acceptance of defeat encouraged losers to seek legal remedies, not violence

Common Exam Mistakes Students Make

Confusing dates: Students mix up 1979 with 1983 elections. Remember: 1979 was the FIRST election after military rule; 1983 was when Shagari sought re-election.
Wrong parties: Do not say NCNC or AG participated – those parties existed in First Republic. The 1979 parties were NPN, UPN, NPP, GNPP, and PRP.
Merely stating facts: When asked to explain the crisis, do not just write “Awolowo challenged Shagari.” Explain WHY – the 12⅔ states mathematical problem.
Missing the resolution: Always mention that Supreme Court ruled in Shagari favor and Awolowo accepted the decision peacefully.
Weak English: Write “two-thirds of 19 states” not “2/3 of 19 state” (state should be plural).

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the main constitutional issue in the 1979 presidential election crisis?
a) Whether Shagari was old enough to be president
b) How to interpret “two-thirds of 19 states” requirement
c) Whether FEDECO should conduct the election
d) How many political parties should participate

Answer: b

2. Which political party did Chief Obafemi Awolowo represent in 1979?
a) National Party of Nigeria (NPN)
b) Nigerian People Party (NPP)
c) Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)
d) Great Nigerian People Party (GNPP)

Answer: c

3. How many states did Shagari NPN win outright in the presidential election?
a) 10 states
b) 12 states
c) 13 states
d) 19 states

Answer: b

4. What was the Supreme Court final decision on the crisis?
a) Ordered a fresh election
b) Declared Awolowo the winner
c) Upheld Shagari victory
d) Cancelled all election results

Answer: c

Essay Question

Question: Explain FOUR reasons why the 1979 presidential election led to a crisis in Nigeria. (10 marks)

Sample Answer Points:

1. Constitutional ambiguity (2.5 marks): The 1979 Constitution required winners to obtain 25% of votes in two-thirds of states, but did not clearly define how to calculate two-thirds of 19 states. This mathematical problem caused confusion about whether 12⅔ meant 12 or 13 states.

2. FEDECO controversial interpretation (2.5 marks): The Federal Electoral Commission decided that Shagari 12 full states plus partial victory in Kano satisfied the requirement. Many Nigerians questioned this interpretation and suspected FEDECO favored the NPN.

3. Regional and ethnic tensions (2.5 marks): The election results reflected Nigeria regional divisions. NPN dominated the North, UPN controlled the West, and NPP won in the East. Each region feared domination by others, making election disputes more emotional.

4. Weak electoral confidence (2.5 marks): Opposition parties and their supporters did not trust FEDECO independence. They believed the electoral body was influenced by retiring military leaders who wanted a northern candidate to win.

Examiner Tip: Use clear topic sentences for each point. Do not just list reasons – explain HOW each factor led to crisis. Include specific details like party names and percentages where possible.

1979 General Elections Crisis