The 1979 Nigerian elections reflected the dedication of Nigerians to pursue democratic governance and the severe challenges to be overcome. The sweeping victory of the NPN, and the election of Alhaji Shehu Shagari as president, required a last-minute manipulation of the formula for achieving victory in the first round. After playing a largely salutary role in guiding the complex transition to the Second Republic, the military regime led by General Olusegun Obasanjo, acting through the Electoral Commission, tipped the scale in Shagari and the NPN’s favor. Finding a workable calculus of federal power, with the opposition enjoying strong sectional support, would be a daunting challenge.

Last modified

• 10/24/2017

Creator

• Richard Joseph

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/N2F377

Keyword

• General Olusegun Obasanjo
• Second Republic
• democracy
• Africa
• Nigeria
• governance
• National Party of Nigeria
• 1979 Elections
• state

Resource type

• Research Paper

License

• All rights reserved