Barely two years after independence, Nigeria faced its first major constitutional breakdown. In the Western Region, political rivalry within the Action Group escalated into legislative violence, public disorder, and federal intervention. What began as an internal party disagreement soon exposed the fragility of the young federation and altered the balance of power in the First Republic. The declaration of a state of emergency in May 1962 marked a decisive moment in Nigeria’s political history.
The Action Group and Regional Power
The Action Group emerged in the early 1950s as the dominant political force in Western Nigeria. Built on strong organisation and progressive social policies, the party governed the region with a clear ideological identity. Its leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, served as Premier until 1959, when he moved to the federal level as Leader of the Opposition.
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Leadership of the Western Region government then passed to Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, a long-standing associate whose political approach differed from Awolowo’s. While Awolowo emphasised party discipline and firm opposition at the centre, Akintola favoured cooperation with the ruling Northern People’s Congress to maintain influence and stability within the federation.
Seeds of Division
Differences over political strategy gradually deepened. By 1961, disagreements over federal alliances, party authority, and leadership control had hardened into factional rivalry. At the Action Group conference held in Jos in January 1962, internal party changes removed Akintola’s position as deputy leader, signalling a decisive shift in the balance of power within the party.
Akintola rejected the authority of the party to remove him as Premier, insisting that his mandate derived from the Western Region House of Assembly. This disagreement transformed a party dispute into a constitutional confrontation.
Legislative Breakdown in Ibadan
The crisis reached its peak in May 1962 when the Western Region House of Assembly met to debate a vote of no confidence in Akintola. Proceedings quickly degenerated into disorder. Members clashed physically, furniture was damaged, and the legislative mace was broken. The Assembly could no longer conduct business, and governance in the region ground to a halt.
In response, the regional Governor, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, dismissed Akintola and appointed Alhaji D. S. Adegbenro as Premier. Akintola challenged the dismissal in court, further deepening uncertainty and paralysis within the regional administration.
Public Tension and Loss of Authority
As the crisis unfolded, political tension spread across parts of the Western Region. Supporters of rival factions engaged in intimidation and sporadic unrest. Political authority weakened, and public confidence in regional governance declined. Normal administrative processes became difficult to sustain amid the continuing power struggle.
The inability of political institutions to resolve the crisis intensified pressure for external intervention.
Federal Government Intervention
On 29 May 1962, Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa announced the declaration of a state of public emergency in the Western Region under the provisions of the 1960 Constitution. The Federal Parliament approved the decision.
The emergency suspended the Western Region House of Assembly and transferred executive authority to the Federal Government. Dr Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, then Federal Minister of Health, was appointed Administrator of the region. Political activities were restricted, and key political figures were detained or placed under limitation orders as order was restored.
Aftermath and Political Realignment
Emergency rule lasted several months before civilian administration was reinstated. When political activities resumed, the political landscape of the Western Region had changed significantly. Akintola returned as Premier under a new political platform that later became the Nigerian National Democratic Party, operating with federal support.
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Meanwhile, investigations into the activities of Action Group leaders continued. In 1963, Obafemi Awolowo and several associates were charged with treasonable felony. Awolowo was convicted and imprisoned, removing a major opposition figure from national politics.
Consequences for the First Republic
The Western Region crisis had lasting implications for Nigeria’s First Republic. It weakened opposition politics, strengthened central authority, and deepened public mistrust of civilian institutions. Regional rivalry and partisan conflict intensified, contributing to an atmosphere of political instability that characterised the final years of the republic.
The events demonstrated how unresolved leadership disputes and fragile institutions could destabilise governance in a newly independent state.
Author’s Note
The Action Group crisis and the Western Region emergency stand as a defining episode in Nigeria’s political history. What began as a leadership dispute within a dominant regional party escalated into legislative collapse, federal intervention, and lasting political realignment. The crisis highlights the consequences of factional politics and the challenges of sustaining democratic governance in a fragile post-independence federation.
References
Parliamentary Debates of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1962
Political Crises and Constitutions of the Nigerian First Republic
Obafemi Awolowo and Opposition Politics in Post-Independence Nigeria
