Political History
6 Defining Crises That Shattered the Nigeria’s First Republic in 1960–1966
Nigeria’s First Republic is often remembered through its dramatic ending: the military coup of January 1966. Yet the collapse of civilian government cannot be...
Political Patronage in Nigeria Before the Oil Boom: The Deep Roots of Power Before Petrodollars
Political Patronage in Nigeria Before the Oil Boom was already visible decades before the petroleum windfall of the 1970s transformed the financial power of...
8 Political Crises Before the Nigerian Civil War
Political crises before the Nigerian Civil War reveal why the conflict cannot be explained by a single coup, one ethnic grievance or the declaration...
Nigeria North-South Political Divide: How Population Became the Currency of Power
The Nigeria North-South political divide cannot be explained by a single census, election or colonial decision. Its roots lie in the political structure created...
Political Parties in Nigeria at Independence: How 3 Powerful Parties Shaped the Politics of Identity
Political parties in Nigeria at independence inherited a country already organised around powerful regional institutions, diverse communities and competing visions of political power. When...
Nigeria’s 1959 Cabinet: 4 Key Figures in the Transition to Independence
Nigeria’s 1959 Cabinet emerged during one of the most consequential periods in the country’s political history. The federal election of December 1959 took place...
The Defining Journey of Abubakar Sani Bello
Abubakar Sani Bello has occupied a prominent place in Niger State politics since the years preceding Nigeria’s landmark 2015 general election. His career has...
Action Group Crisis 1962: How Drum Recorded a Powerful Turning Point in Western Nigeria
The Action Group Crisis 1962 was one of the most consequential political emergencies of Nigeria’s early independence. Less than two years after the country...
1979 Nigerian Governors: 2 Remarkable Survivors of the Second Republic’s First Elected Class
The 1979 Nigerian governors represented a new political generation. On 1 October 1979, nineteen elected state executives took office as Nigeria ended more than...
A Mother’s Unending Grief: The Tragic Killing of Adeife and Akinola Sodipo-Akindeko in 2003
Some moments change a person's life forever. For Dr. Mrs. Abisola Sodipo-Akindeko Clark, one journey from Lagos to Abeokuta in 2003 became the day...