A remarkable feature of the Republican Constitution was the

Answer Details

The Nigerian Republican Constitution of 1963 replaced the Independence Constitution of 1960. The most remarkable feature of the 1963 constitution was that the Queen of England ceased to be the Head of State of Nigeria.

Under the 1960 Independence Constitution, Nigeria was a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, with the British monarch (Queen Elizabeth II) as the formal Head of State, represented locally by a Governor-General (Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe). The Prime Minister (Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa) served as the Head of Government.

When the Republican Constitution took effect on 1 October 1963, Nigeria became a republic. The position of Governor-General was replaced by a ceremonial President (Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe became the first President), while the Prime Minister remained the Head of Government. The Supreme Court of Nigeria replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final court of appeal.

The option stating that the president was the head of government is incorrect because the president under the 1963 constitution was a ceremonial head of state, not the head of government. The Prime Minister continued to exercise executive authority. The defining change was the severance of the formal constitutional link to the British Crown.