Military centralisation of political authority occurs when a military government concentrates formal control over the state including executive, legislative, and judicial functions, in the hands of senior officers. In Nigeria, this process occurred through a series of coups and extended periods of military rule that dissolved or suspended democratic institutions and placed decision-making power in military councils and senior officers. This centralisation reshaped governance, federalism, and the political landscape of the country.
What Military Centralisation Means
Military governments disrupt the normal constitutional order. Power is concentrated in the leadership of the armed forces rather than distributed among branches of government accountable to citizens. In Nigeria, this centralisation involved suspending constitutions, ruling by decree, replacing elected representatives with military administrators, suppressing political parties, and managing electoral processes.
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Historical Phases of Military Centralisation in Nigeria
1966 to 1979: The First Era of Military Rule
The first major military intervention in Nigeria occurred in January 1966, when a group of army officers overthrew the civilian government. The republican constitution was suspended, and the Supreme Military Council was formed. This council exercised executive and legislative authority, replacing both the civilian cabinet and national parliament.
Laws were issued as military decrees without legislative approval. The Supreme Military Council reorganised the federal structure by increasing the number of states, reducing regional autonomy. Military governors replaced elected state officials and were accountable to the council, consolidating authority at the centre. In 1979, a transition to civilian rule was organised, but the centralised authority established by the military left a lasting impact on governance structures.
1983 to 1999: Renewed Military Centralisation
Military rule returned in December 1983 when Major-General Muhammadu Buhari seized power. The constitution was suspended and the Supreme Military Council restored.
In 1985, Major-General Ibrahim Babangida assumed power through a coup, continuing centralisation while announcing a controlled political transition. In 1993, Babangida annulled the results of a national election, maintaining ultimate control over political processes.
General Sani Abacha’s takeover in 1993 marked one of the most centralised periods of military rule. He ruled through decrees that limited judicial review and restricted political freedoms. Political parties were dissolved or tightly controlled, and critics faced detention without trial. Decision-making remained firmly within military institutions.
Mechanisms of Centralisation
Suspension of Constitutions
Constitutions were repeatedly suspended or abrogated, removing checks on executive authority and weakening civilian institutions.
Rule by Decree
Military leaders enacted laws via decrees, bypassing legislatures and enabling rapid policy changes without consultation.
Appointment of Military Administrators
State governors and senior officials were appointed by the federal military leadership and were accountable to military councils, reducing regional autonomy.
Control or Suppression of Political Parties
Political parties were banned, dissolved, or strictly controlled to maintain military influence over political activities.
Management of Electoral Processes
Elections were organised but tightly managed by the military. The annulment of the June 12 1993 presidential election exemplifies how the military retained ultimate control over governance outcomes.
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Consequences of Military Centralisation
Weakening of Federal Autonomy
State and regional governments lost significant independence as military administrators reported to the central leadership.
Erosion of Democratic Institutions
Legislatures, political parties, and judicial oversight were weakened or made ineffective, leaving a legacy that influenced the post-military civilian government.
Legacy in Civilian Politics
The culture of centralised decision-making shaped Nigeria’s political institutions after 1999, with the executive presidency remaining a strong centre of authority.
Author’s Note
This article provides a factual account of how military governments in Nigeria centralised political authority between 1966 and 1999. It details the suspension of constitutions, the use of decrees, the appointment of central administrators, and the control of political parties and electoral processes. By tracing historical events, the article demonstrates how centralisation under military regimes reshaped governance, weakened federal autonomy, and left enduring institutional legacies that continue to influence Nigerian politics today.
References
Murdey Ezema Federalism and Military Rule in Nigeria
Amalgamated Political History of Nigeria
Encyclopaedia of Nigerian Military Governments
