In 1962, Nigeria’s Western Region was engulfed in a profound political crisis after a leadership rupture within the dominant regional party, the Action Group (AG). The struggle between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola over party direction and political alliances triggered legislative violence and prompted the federal government to declare a state of emergency the first in the nation’s history. This article traces the origins, escalation, federal intervention, and consequences of that crisis, showing how a regional political dispute reshaped Nigeria’s First Republic.
The Action Group and the Roots of Division
The Action Group was the leading political party in the Western Region following independence in 1960. It had swept regional elections and was credited with progressive policies in education and governance. Tensions mounted when differences emerged over political strategy. Awolowo opposed close cooperation with the federal ruling Northern People’s Congress (NPC), while Akintola favoured collaboration with the NPC to secure political stability and influence at the federal level. The disagreement reflected broader debates about federal-regional relations in a newly independent Nigeria.
At the AG annual conference in January 1962 in Jos, the post of deputy leader was abolished, weakening Akintola’s formal role and intensifying factionalism within the party. This internal dissension laid the groundwork for a broader political breakdown.
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Legislative Breakdown and Violence in the Western Region
By May 1962, the situation had degenerated. The Western Region House of Assembly became a scene of open conflict. When Akintola was challenged with a vote of no confidence and advised to resign, he refused. The Governor of Western Nigeria, Sir Adesoji Aderemi, dismissed Akintola and appointed Alhaji D.S. Adegbenro as the new leader.
When the Assembly sat to confirm this change, sessions erupted into physical clashes among lawmakers. Fistfights shattered decorum, and the legislative mace — the symbol of assembly authority — was broken during the turmoil. The breakdown of parliamentary order illustrated that factional disagreements had transcended routine politics and threatened governance.
Federal Intervention and the Declaration of Emergency
With effective government in the Western Region in collapse, the federal government intervened. On 29 May 1962, Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa convened an emergency session of the Federal Parliament in Lagos. He moved a constitutional motion declaring that “a state of public emergency exists in Western Region.” The motion was passed by significant majorities in both chambers.
Under the emergency declaration:
- The Western Region House of Assembly was dissolved.
- A federal administrator was appointed to manage regional affairs.
- Various political leaders from both factions were placed under restriction orders.
Dr Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi, then Federal Minister of Health and Senator, was appointed Administrator of the Western Region. He assumed control in Ibadan on 31 May 1962 and worked to restore public order and governance functions while reporting directly to the federal government.
Legal Actions and Party Realignments
While emergency rule was in place, investigations into the conduct of Western Region leaders were pursued. Allegations of misuse of funds from development corporations linked to the Action Group were investigated. Subsequently, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other AG leaders were charged with conspiracy and treasonable felony, tried, and in June 1963 Awolowo was convicted and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment.
After the emergency period ended, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola returned to power as Premier of the Western Region under a new political arrangement. In the 1965 elections he led the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), which allied with the NPC at federal level.
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Impact on Nigeria’s First Republic
The 1962 crisis in the Western Region had lasting effects on Nigeria’s political landscape:
- It marked the first time the federal government used constitutional powers to suspend regional governance due to internal political failure.
- The fall of the Action Group’s unity weakened a major opposition party and intensified regional factionalism.
- The events contributed to growing political instability across the federation, which later factored into the 1966 military coup.
The crisis underscored the challenges of managing regional party dynamics within a diverse federation and exposed vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s early democratic institutions. The inability of political actors to resolve disputes internally foreshadowed deeper systemic issues in the First Republic.
Author’s Note
The 1962 Action Group crisis and the Western Region state of emergency were pivotal in the history of Nigeria’s First Republic. The episode began with a deepening rift within the Action Group over strategy and alliances. It escalated to legislative violence, dissolution of the regional assembly, federal intervention, and legal actions that reshaped leadership in the Western Region. The crisis reflected broader tensions in Nigeria’s nascent democracy, illustrated the limits of regional autonomy, and contributed to patterns of political instability that affected the entire nation. Its resolution marked a realignment of political power that influenced the trajectory of Nigeria’s politics in the 1960s.
References
1962 in Nigeria – Western Region crisis and split in Action Group
Major Political Crises in Nigeria – Action Group Crisis of 1962
The Crisis in Western Nigeria – May 1962 – parliamentary collapse and federal response
Nothing to be gained from declaration of state of emergency – motion in Federal Parliament
Myschool: WAEC Government Theory – emergency period and aftermath
