The 1983 general elections in Nigeria marked a defining moment in the country’s postcolonial political history. Emerging from the democratic experiment of the Second Republic (1979–1983), the elections revealed both the promise and fragility of civilian governance. They also exposed the enduring influence of regionalism, ethnicity, and patronage on political behaviour. Campaign propaganda during this period became a key instrument through which political parties shaped public opinion, mobilised voters, and articulated the narratives of belonging and exclusion that underpinned Nigeria’s political culture.
Among the various campaign materials circulated in the period were pamphlets, posters, and handbills produced by local party operatives. One such item, reportedly titled “Guide to Elections ’83” and allegedly issued by the Oyo State branch of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), has appeared in oral recollections and informal online references. It was said to endorse NPN candidates and to include a controversial section labelled “Awo on Hausa/Fulani, Islam Etc.”, supposedly quoting Chief Obafemi Awolowo on northern and Muslim communities.
However, no authenticated copy, facsimile, or official record of this document exists in the National Archives, Ibadan, or any known public repository. Scholarly databases, library catalogues, and election studies contain no verified references to such a leaflet. Consequently, while accounts of the “Guide to Elections ’83” circulate in public memory, historians regard the document itself as unverified. What remains valuable, though, is the insight such a story provides into the campaign culture and rhetorical tensions of the 1983 elections.
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Political and Historical Context
Nigeria’s Second Republic was inaugurated in 1979 with President Shehu Shagari of the NPN at its helm. The new presidential system sought to promote national unity by diffusing regional power after years of military rule. By 1983, however, the republic faced severe challenges: declining oil revenues, rising unemployment, inflation, and allegations of widespread corruption. Public trust in civilian governance had eroded, setting the stage for one of the most contentious elections in Nigerian history.
The political field was dominated by five major parties:
- NPN (National Party of Nigeria) – the ruling party, with its strongest base in the northern states;
- UPN (Unity Party of Nigeria) – led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, dominant in the Yoruba southwest;
- NPP (Nigerian People’s Party) – influential in the Igbo southeast;
- PRP (People’s Redemption Party) – associated with Aminu Kano’s northern populism;
- GNPP (Great Nigeria People’s Party) – with pockets of support in the northeast.
In Oyo State, the contest between the incumbent UPN governor, Chief Bola Ige, and the NPN challenger, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, symbolised the intensity of inter-party rivalry. The NPN sought to expand into the southwest, challenging the UPN’s stronghold. The official results declared Olunloyo the winner, a decision bitterly disputed by the UPN and later contested in the courts (Ige v. Olunloyo, 1984). Allegations of intimidation, vote rigging, and violence in Ibadan and Ilesha were widely reported.
Campaign Propaganda and Communication in 1983
The 1983 campaigns unfolded in a political environment where mass media access was limited and local mobilisation strategies were paramount. Political communication relied heavily on posters, rallies, radio jingles, and printed leaflets. Parties used these materials not only to advertise manifestos but also to frame opponents through ethnically coded or religiously charged rhetoric.
Research shows that both the NPN and the UPN drew on identity politics to consolidate support. The NPN, leveraging its control of federal resources and media, promoted messages of inclusivity and continuity under President Shagari. The UPN, in contrast, projected Chief Awolowo’s reputation for integrity and social welfare achievements in the Western Region. In many local contexts, campaign language blurred the line between policy debate and ethnic provocation.
In Oyo State, the political rivalry was particularly fierce. Local NPN operatives reportedly produced various pamphlets that sought to question Awolowo’s national outlook or appeal to Yoruba-Muslim voters. While these efforts were consistent with broader propaganda tactics of the time, the specific “Guide to Elections ’83” remains undocumented. Until a copy with identifiable provenance (such as a publication imprint, date, or archival reference) is found, historians classify it as a reported but unverified campaign text.
Propaganda, Ethnicity and Religion
The Second Republic’s political language often reflected deeper anxieties about regional dominance and religious identity. Parties sought to present themselves as champions of national unity while subtly appealing to ethnic solidarities. The NPN frequently emphasised its “broad-based” membership, portraying itself as a national coalition, whereas the UPN, though advocating federalism and social democracy, was often labelled a “regional” or “ethnic” party by its opponents.
In such an environment, campaign propaganda sometimes included selective quotations, distortions, or attributions designed to sway sentiment. Even when fabricated, such materials contributed to shaping perceptions and reinforcing political divides. Whether or not the “Guide to Elections ’83” existed, its alleged content, pitting Awolowo’s perceived regionalism against NPN’s purported inclusiveness, reflects the rhetorical patterns that characterised 1983 politics.
Aftermath and Historical Impact
The 1983 general elections were marred by widespread irregularities. Observers documented cases of ballot stuffing, inflated voter figures, and partisan manipulation of electoral processes. Public disillusionment grew as confidence in democratic institutions collapsed.
On 31 December 1983, Major General Muhammadu Buhari led a military coup that toppled the Shagari administration, citing corruption and electoral malpractice as justification. The coup ended the Second Republic and ushered in another long phase of military rule.
In retrospect, the narratives surrounding campaign propaganda in 1983, including stories like that of the alleged “Guide to Elections ’83”, underscore how political communication intertwined with ethnic and religious identities to shape Nigeria’s fragile democracy. Even in the absence of a verified copy, the persistence of the leaflet’s legend reveals how political memory and myth become part of the historical landscape, influencing how later generations understand the Second Republic’s collapse.
Assessing the political culture of 1983 requires a careful balance between documented history and remembered experience. There is no verified archival record of a leaflet titled “Guide to Elections ’83”, nor of any authentic text quoting Chief Obafemi Awolowo on Hausa/Fulani or Islam. Yet, the idea of such propaganda is consistent with the methods and rhetoric of that campaign season.
Author’s Note
By distinguishing what can be proven from what is probable, historians can better appreciate how propaganda, ethnic mobilisation, and contested legitimacy converged to undermine Nigeria’s Second Republic. The story of the alleged leaflet therefore serves, not as a verified artefact, but as a powerful metaphor for an era when electoral politics blurred the boundaries between fact, rumour, and political storytelling.
References:
Hart, Christopher. “The Nigerian Elections of 1983.” Africa: Journal of the International African Institute (1993).
Diamond, Larry. Class, Ethnicity, and Democracy in Nigeria: The Failure of the First Republic. Syracuse University Press, 1988.
CountryStudies / Library of Congress: “The Second Republic, 1979–83.”
Ige v. Olunloyo (1984) CLR 1(b), Supreme Court of Nigeria. compulaw.net.
CODESRIA Publications: Studies on political communication and electoral behaviour in Nigeria.
European Parliament Report: “Nigeria: The 1983 Elections and Political Transitions.”
