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Question 1 Report
A bicameral legislature is made up of
Answer Details
A bicameral legislature is made up of two chambers. The prefix "bi-" means two, and "camera" is Latin for chamber. Therefore, bicameral literally means "two chambers."
In a bicameral legislature, the law-making body is divided into two separate houses, each with its own membership, procedures, and often distinct functions. In Nigeria, the National Assembly is bicameral, consisting of the Senate (upper chamber, with 109 members) and the House of Representatives (lower chamber, with 360 members). Other examples include the United Kingdom Parliament (House of Lords and House of Commons) and the United States Congress (Senate and House of Representatives).
The rationale for bicameralism includes providing a system of checks within the legislature, ensuring broader representation (geographic and population-based), allowing for more thorough deliberation of legislation, and preventing hasty law-making.
A legislature with one chamber is called unicameral ("uni-" meaning one). There are no standard terms for three-chamber or four-chamber legislatures, as such arrangements do not exist in modern governance.
Question 2 Report
Colonial policy of assimilation was introduced in Africa by the
Answer Details
The colonial policy of assimilation was introduced in Africa by the French. Assimilation was a colonial policy under which the French sought to absorb the peoples of their colonies into French civilisation by making them adopt French culture, language, laws, customs, and political institutions. The ultimate goal was to transform colonial subjects into "Black Frenchmen" who would be culturally indistinguishable from citizens in metropolitan France.
Under the policy of assimilation, Africans in French colonies (particularly in the Four Communes of Senegal - Saint-Louis, Goree, Rufisque, and Dakar) who met certain criteria could acquire French citizenship. They were expected to speak French, adopt French dress, practice French customs, and be educated in the French system. Those who met these requirements were called assimiles (assimilated persons) and enjoyed the same rights as French citizens.
The other colonial powers pursued different approaches. The British used the policy of indirect rule, governing through existing traditional institutions. The Germans employed a mix of direct and indirect methods. The Portuguese had a similar but distinct policy called the assimilado system, but the question specifically asks about the policy of assimilation, which is most closely and primarily associated with the French colonial approach.
Question 3 Report
The authority of a leader derived from a constitution is
Answer Details
The sociologist Max Weber classified authority into three types: traditional, charismatic, and legal-rational. Authority derived from a constitution falls under legal-rational authority.
Legal-rational authority rests on established laws, rules, and procedures rather than on the personal qualities of a leader or inherited custom. A leader who governs under a constitution draws legitimacy from the legal framework that defines the office, its powers, and its limitations. The authority belongs to the office, not to the individual who occupies it.
Charismatic authority derives from the exceptional personal qualities, heroism, or persuasive ability of a leader. Traditional authority is based on long-standing customs, hereditary succession, and established practices (as seen in monarchies and chieftaincies). Delegated authority refers to powers transferred from a superior body to a subordinate one and does not describe a type of legitimacy in Weber's classification.
Constitutional governance is the clearest example of legal-rational authority, where leaders are bound by codified rules and can be held accountable through legal processes.
Question 4 Report
Democracy is a system in which the
Answer Details
Democracy is fundamentally defined as a system of government in which the majority rule. In a democratic system, decisions are made based on the will of the majority of the people, either directly (through referendums) or indirectly (through elected representatives). This principle is often expressed in Abraham Lincoln's formulation of democracy as "government of the people, by the people, for the people."
"Majority conquers" is incorrect because democracy is not about conquest or domination; the majority governs within a framework that also protects the rights of the minority. "Minority protest" describes an activity that may occur in a democracy but is not its defining feature. "Minority rule" is the opposite of democracy and is characteristic of systems like oligarchy or aristocracy.
It is important to note that while the majority rules in a democracy, this is tempered by the rule of law, constitutional protections, and respect for minority rights. The tyranny of the majority is guarded against by constitutional provisions.
Question 5 Report
The two constitutions that provided for the election of four legislative members were
Answer Details
In Nigerian constitutional history, the Clifford Constitution (1922) introduced the elective principle for the first time. It provided for the election of four members to the Nigerian Legislative Council: three from Lagos and one from Calabar. The remaining members were either nominated or served in an official capacity.
The Richards Constitution (1946), named after Governor Arthur Richards, retained the same four elected seats from the Clifford arrangement (three from Lagos and one from Calabar) while restructuring the legislature to include regional representation through regional councils. Although the Richards Constitution expanded the Legislative Council and introduced regionalism, the number of directly elected members remained at four.
Thus, both the Clifford and Richards Constitutions provided for the election of exactly four legislative members. The subsequent Macpherson Constitution (1951) significantly expanded elected representation, while the Lyttleton Constitution (1954) transformed Nigeria into a federation with broader electoral participation. Neither Macpherson nor Lyttleton is associated with the four-member elected legislature.
Question 6 Report
Decentralisation of power is a feature of a
Answer Details
Decentralisation of power means the constitutional distribution of governmental authority between a central government and regional or sub-national units, so that each level exercises real, independent powers within its own sphere.
A federal state is defined precisely by this feature. In a federation, the constitution divides legislative, executive, and sometimes judicial powers between the central (federal) government and the component units (states, provinces, or regions). Neither level of government derives its powers from the other; both draw authority directly from the constitution. Examples include Nigeria, the United States, and Canada.
A unitary state is the opposite: power is concentrated in the central government, which may delegate functions to local authorities but can also withdraw them at will. A confederal state is a loose association of sovereign states that delegate limited powers to a common body; the member states retain ultimate sovereignty rather than sharing power through a constitutional division. A parliamentary state describes the relationship between the legislature and the executive (where the executive is drawn from and accountable to parliament) and says nothing about how power is distributed between levels of government.
Decentralisation of power is therefore a defining characteristic of a federal state.
Question 7 Report
A politically independent nation is referred to as a
Answer Details
In political science, a state is a politically organised body of people occupying a defined territory, with a government that exercises sovereign authority and is recognised by other states. The four essential attributes of a state are: a permanent population, a defined territory, a functioning government, and sovereignty (political independence).
Political independence - the capacity to conduct internal and external affairs without being subject to another authority - is the hallmark of sovereignty, and sovereignty is the defining feature that distinguishes a state from other forms of human organisation.
A territory refers only to a geographical area and may or may not be politically independent (colonies and dependent territories are not sovereign). A society is a group of people who share common culture, norms, and social relationships, but it is a sociological concept, not a political one. A community is a group of people living together with shared interests or identity, but it lacks the formal political and legal structures of a state.
A politically independent nation is therefore referred to as a state.
Question 8 Report
An organised group of citizens acting together and seeking to obtain the control of government is a
Answer Details
A political party is an organised group of citizens who share similar political ideas and come together with the primary objective of winning control of government through elections. This distinguishes political parties from all other forms of association.
A civil society organisation advocates for specific causes and holds government accountable, but it does not seek to win governmental power itself. A labour union represents the collective interests of workers in matters of employment, wages, and working conditions. A student union represents students' welfare within an educational institution. None of these bodies contests elections or aims to form a government.
The defining characteristic that separates a political party from other organised groups is its explicit goal of obtaining and exercising the power of government, typically by nominating candidates, contesting elections, and forming or joining a government if successful.
Question 9 Report
The African Union came into existence in 2002 when it replaced the
Answer Details
The African Union (AU) came into existence on July 9, 2002, replacing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The OAU had been established in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the primary aims of promoting unity and solidarity among African states, eradicating colonialism, and defending the sovereignty of its member states.
By the late 1990s, African leaders recognised the need for a more effective continental body that could address the challenges of the post-Cold War era, including conflict resolution, economic integration, and governance. The Constitutive Act of the African Union was adopted in 2000 at the Lome Summit (Togo) and came into force in 2001. The AU was formally launched in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a financial institution that continues to exist alongside the AU. "Federation of African Unity" and "Organisation of African Community" are not real organisations. The OAU is the only body that the AU replaced.
Question 10 Report
A system of government that allows executive powers to be vested in one person
Answer Details
A system of government in which executive powers are vested in one person is the presidential system. In a presidential system, the president serves as both the head of state and the head of government, exercising executive authority as a single individual. The president is typically elected directly by the people and is not dependent on the legislature for their position.
This distinguishes the presidential system from other forms of government:
The United States and Nigeria are examples of countries that practise the presidential system, where executive power is concentrated in one elected president.
Question 11 Report
The determinants of a country's foreign policy are often influenced by
Answer Details
A country's foreign policy is shaped by a range of determinants, but economic considerations are among the most influential. Nations formulate their external relations largely around trade interests, access to markets, investment opportunities, resource security, and the economic well-being of their citizens. Bilateral and multilateral agreements, membership of economic blocs (such as ECOWAS), and diplomatic relationships are frequently driven by economic goals.
While religious factors can occasionally influence diplomatic stances, they are not a primary or universal determinant of foreign policy. "Isolation ideologies" describes a narrow approach (isolationism) that only a few nations have adopted historically, and it is a policy choice rather than a general determinant. "Military power only" is too restrictive; although military capability is one factor, foreign policy is never determined by military strength alone.
Economic considerations encompass the broadest and most consistent set of factors that influence how states relate to one another on the international stage.
Question 12 Report
Party coalition is common in a
Answer Details
A party coalition occurs when two or more political parties come together to form a government or to pursue shared political objectives. This is most commonly found in a multi-party system.
In a multi-party system, several political parties compete for power, and it is common for no single party to win an outright majority of seats in the legislature. When this happens, parties must negotiate and form coalitions to achieve a working majority. This coalition-building is a defining feature of multi-party democracies.
Coalitions are not characteristic of other party systems:
Countries like Israel, India, and Germany frequently demonstrate coalition politics because their multi-party systems make it difficult for any single party to secure a parliamentary majority on its own.
Question 13 Report
Public opinion is difficult to measure because it can be
Answer Details
Public opinion refers to the collective attitudes and views held by members of the public on matters of political or social importance. Public opinion is considered difficult to measure accurately because it can be manipulated.
Manipulation of public opinion occurs through various means, including propaganda, biased media coverage, misinformation, political advertising, and the framing of issues in ways that influence how people think about them. When public opinion is manipulated, survey results and polls may not reflect what people genuinely think but rather what they have been led to believe through external influence. This makes it extremely difficult for researchers and analysts to determine what the true, uninfluenced opinion of the public actually is.
The other options do not explain why public opinion is difficult to measure:
The susceptibility of public opinion to manipulation by politicians, the media, and interest groups is the primary reason it is difficult to obtain an accurate and reliable measurement of what the public truly believes.
Question 14 Report
Sovereignty refers to the
Answer Details
Sovereignty refers to the supreme power and authority of a state over its own affairs. It means that a state has the final and absolute authority to make and enforce laws within its territory (internal sovereignty) and to conduct its relations with other states without being subject to the control of any external power (external sovereignty).
This concept is central to the definition of a modern state. Internal sovereignty means the state has the highest authority over all individuals and institutions within its borders. External sovereignty means the state is independent and equal in status to other states in the international community, free from external interference in its domestic affairs.
The option referring to using force to enforce obedience describes coercion, which is only one instrument a sovereign state may use, not the definition of sovereignty itself. Negotiating with other states describes diplomacy, a function of sovereignty but not its meaning. Governing other nations describes imperialism or colonialism, which is the opposite of respecting other states' sovereignty.
Question 15 Report
Public corporations are entities
Answer Details
Public corporations are entities created by the state. They are government-owned enterprises established through an act of parliament, a decree, or an executive order to provide essential services to the public. Examples include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
Key characteristics of public corporations include: they are owned by the government, they are established by law (statute or decree), they have a separate legal identity from the government, they are managed by a board of directors appointed by the government, and they are funded primarily from public revenue, though they may also generate their own income.
The other options are inaccurate. "Set up for production of goods" is too narrow - public corporations provide both goods and services (such as electricity, water, and transportation). "Created by an edict" is partially correct (some were created by military decrees), but this is not the defining characteristic and is too restrictive - many public corporations are created by acts of parliament. "Established by public/private partnership" describes a different arrangement - public-private partnerships involve shared ownership and management between government and private entities, which is distinct from a public corporation that is wholly state-owned.
Question 16 Report
The Independent National Electoral Commission is responsible for
Answer Details
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body responsible for conducting general elections in Nigeria. INEC was established under the 1999 Constitution (Section 153) as an independent body tasked with organising, undertaking, and supervising all elections in the country, including presidential, gubernatorial, National Assembly, and state assembly elections.
INEC's specific functions include voter registration, delimitation of constituencies, registration of political parties, conduct of elections, and announcement of election results. It is designed to operate independently of the executive, legislature, and judiciary to ensure free and fair elections.
The other options describe functions that belong to different bodies. Swearing in elected members is a judicial or ceremonial function - the Chief Justice of Nigeria swears in the President, for instance. Conducting population census is the responsibility of the National Population Commission (NPC). Impeaching the President is a legislative function carried out by the National Assembly following the procedure laid out in the Constitution.
Question 17 Report
The primary function of the judiciary is to
Answer Details
The primary function of the judiciary is to interpret laws. The judiciary examines the meaning, scope, and application of legislation passed by the legislature and determines how those laws apply to specific cases. This includes deciding disputes between individuals, between individuals and the state, and between different levels or arms of government.
Maintaining law and order is primarily the function of the executive arm (through agencies like the police). Making laws is the function of the legislature (the National Assembly in Nigeria). Enforcing laws is also an executive responsibility. While judicial decisions help shape law through precedent and judicial review, the defining and primary role of the judiciary is interpretation rather than creation or enforcement of law.
In Nigeria, the judiciary, headed by the Supreme Court, acts as the guardian of the constitution by interpreting its provisions and ensuring that the actions of the other arms of government conform to constitutional requirements.
Question 18 Report
Nigeria was a member of
Answer Details
Nigeria is a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Nigeria joined OPEC in July 1971, having become a significant crude oil producer. OPEC is an intergovernmental organisation of oil-exporting nations that coordinates and unifies petroleum policies among its member countries to ensure stable oil markets and fair prices.
The other options are organisations Nigeria does not belong to:
Nigeria's OPEC membership reflects its status as one of Africa's largest oil producers and gives it a voice in global petroleum pricing and production decisions.
Question 19 Report
The age qualifications of members of the Senate and House of Representatives under the 1979 constitution were
Answer Details
Under the 1979 Nigerian Constitution, the minimum age qualifications for members of the Senate and the House of Representatives were 30 and 21 years respectively.
The 1979 Constitution established a bicameral legislature (the National Assembly) consisting of the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower house). To be eligible for election to the Senate, a person had to be at least 30 years old. To be eligible for election to the House of Representatives, a person had to be at least 21 years old.
The age difference reflects the traditional view that the Senate, as the upper chamber, requires greater maturity and experience from its members. This pattern is common in bicameral legislatures around the world - for example, the United States also sets a higher age requirement for senators (30 years) than for members of the House of Representatives (25 years).
The other options present incorrect pairings. "35 and 30 years" overstates both requirements. "30 and 35 years" reverses the expected order (the Senate requires the higher age, not the House of Representatives). "21 and 30 years respectively" also reverses the correct order.
Question 20 Report
The application of the rule of law can be hindered by
Answer Details
The rule of law is the principle that every person, regardless of status or position, is subject to and accountable under the law. However, there are recognised exceptions that hinder its full application. One of the most significant is diplomatic immunity.
Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law that exempts foreign diplomats and their families from the jurisdiction of the courts in the country where they serve. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), diplomats cannot be arrested, detained, or prosecuted by the host country's legal system, even if they commit offences. This creates a situation where certain individuals are effectively above the domestic law, directly contradicting the principle that the law applies equally to everyone.
The other options do not constitute recognised hindrances to the rule of law:
Question 21 Report
The main objectives of African Union is to
Answer Details
The African Union (AU), which replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 2002, was established with the central objective of promoting co-operation and economic development among its member states. The AU's Constitutive Act sets out goals that include accelerating political and socio-economic integration of the continent, promoting peace, security, and stability, promoting sustainable development, and fostering international cooperation.
The other options are either inaccurate or describe other organisations entirely. Regulating business transactions within the international community is more aligned with organisations like the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Overseeing the free flow of political engagement between Africa and developed nations does not accurately describe the AU's mandate - the AU focuses on intra-African cooperation. Settling disputes among South East Asian countries is the concern of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), not the African Union.
The AU currently has 55 member states encompassing the entire African continent and works toward continental unity, collective development, and the resolution of African challenges by Africans themselves.
Question 22 Report
The essence of the doctrine of separation of powers is to prevent
Answer Details
The doctrine of separation of powers divides governmental authority among three distinct branches: the legislature (which makes laws), the executive (which implements laws), and the judiciary (which interprets laws). Each branch operates independently within its sphere, and no single branch is permitted to exercise the powers belonging to another.
The central purpose of this arrangement is to prevent the abuse of powers. When all governmental power is concentrated in one person or body, there is a high risk of tyranny and arbitrary rule. By distributing powers across three branches and establishing a system of checks and balances, the doctrine ensures that each branch can restrain the others from exceeding their constitutional authority.
Independence of the judiciary is a result of separation of powers, not its core purpose. Financial independence is not directly addressed by the doctrine. "Friction of powers" is not a recognised political concept in this context. The overarching goal is safeguarding citizens from the concentration and misuse of governmental power.
Question 23 Report
Registration of political parties is the responsibility of the
Answer Details
The registration of political parties in Nigeria is the responsibility of the Electoral Commission - specifically, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Under the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, INEC has the exclusive power to register and deregister political parties, monitor their activities, and ensure they comply with legal requirements such as having a national spread and a democratic internal structure.
To be registered, a political party must meet conditions set by INEC, including having its headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja), having offices in at least two-thirds of the states, submitting a constitution and manifesto, and demonstrating that its membership cuts across at least two-thirds of the states.
The other commissions serve different functions. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registers businesses, companies, and incorporated trustees, not political parties. The Public Complaints Commission handles complaints from citizens against government agencies and public officers. The Civil Service Commission deals with appointments, promotions, discipline, and welfare of civil servants. None of these bodies has any role in the registration or regulation of political parties.
Question 24 Report
The Babangida transition programme to civil rule officially started in
Answer Details
General Ibrahim Babangida seized power through a military coup on 27 August 1985. His administration subsequently launched a transition programme to return Nigeria to civilian rule. This transition programme officially started in 1987 with the establishment of the Political Bureau, which was tasked with consulting Nigerians on the appropriate political framework for the country.
Key milestones in the Babangida transition programme included:
Note that 1985 was when Babangida took power (not when the transition started), and 1983 was when the Buhari regime came to power. The transition programme itself was formally launched in 1987.
Question 25 Report
Nigeria became a federation of nineteen states in
Answer Details
Nigeria's federal structure has undergone several state-creation exercises since independence. The country became a federation of nineteen states in 1976, when the military government of General Murtala Mohammed reorganised the federation from the existing twelve states into nineteen.
The timeline of state creation in Nigeria is important to keep straight:
The answer is 1976, when the federation expanded from twelve to nineteen states under the Murtala Mohammed administration.
Question 26 Report
OPEC was formed by some oil producing nations in
Answer Details
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed on 14 September 1960 in Baghdad, Iraq. The five founding members were Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
These oil-producing nations established OPEC to coordinate and unify their petroleum policies, stabilise oil prices in international markets, and ensure a steady income for member countries. Before OPEC's formation, international oil companies (the "Seven Sisters") largely controlled oil pricing and production, often to the disadvantage of the producing nations.
Nigeria joined OPEC in 1971, making it one of the later members. The organisation has since grown to include several other members from Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
The other dates offered are incorrect: 1950 predates the formation by a decade, 1959 is one year too early, and 1966 is six years after the actual founding.
Question 27 Report
The longest and most expensive military transition programme in Nigeria was under
Answer Details
The longest and most expensive military transition programme in Nigeria was conducted under General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), who ruled from 1985 to 1993. His transition programme spanned approximately eight years and consumed enormous financial resources.
Babangida's transition programme involved multiple stages: the creation of two government-sponsored political parties (the Social Democratic Party and the National Republican Convention), local government elections, state elections, a Constituent Assembly, and ultimately a presidential election held on June 12, 1993. Despite the massive investment of time and money, Babangida annulled the June 12 election results, which were widely believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola, plunging Nigeria into a political crisis.
By comparison, the Murtala/Obasanjo transition (1975-1979) lasted about four years and successfully handed over to a civilian government. Abdulsalami Abubakar's transition (1998-1999) was the shortest at less than one year. General Gowon's regime (1966-1975) had a transition promise but it was never implemented, leading to the coup that removed him.
Question 28 Report
The pioneer president of the Action Group was
Answer Details
The Action Group (AG) was one of the major political parties in Nigeria's First Republic. It was founded in 1951, and its pioneer president (leader) was Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The party drew its primary support from the Yoruba people of Western Nigeria, though it also sought to attract members from other regions.
Under Awolowo's leadership, the Action Group championed free primary education, free healthcare, and modernisation of the Western Region. The party controlled the Western Region government from 1954 until the political crisis of 1962.
The other individuals listed were leaders of different political parties:
Question 29 Report
The Commonwealth Games were last hosted by Nigeria in
Answer Details
Nigeria has never hosted the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games are a major multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from Commonwealth nations, but all past editions have been hosted by other countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, and Jamaica. No African country has hosted the Commonwealth Games to date.
Nigeria hosted the 8th All-Africa Games in Abuja in 2003, which is a different sporting event organised by the African Union Sports Council. Students sometimes confuse the two events. The year 2003 in the options may be a deliberate distractor referencing the All-Africa Games, but the question specifically asks about the Commonwealth Games, which Nigeria has not hosted.
Question 30 Report
The recruitment, promotion and discipline of civil servants is a key function of the
Answer Details
The Federal Civil Service Commission is the body constitutionally responsible for the recruitment, promotion, and discipline of civil servants in Nigeria. This commission is established under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to ensure that the civil service operates on the principles of merit, fairness, and professionalism.
The functions of the Federal Civil Service Commission include:
The other bodies mentioned serve different purposes:
Question 31 Report
The declaration of Africa as the centrepiece of Nigeria's foreign policy could be traced back to the administration of
Answer Details
The declaration of Africa as the centrepiece of Nigeria's foreign policy can be traced to the administration of Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria's first Prime Minister (1960-1966). From the moment of independence, Balewa's government established a foreign policy built on African solidarity, non-alignment, and the promotion of African unity.
Key actions under Balewa's administration included:
While later administrations, particularly that of Murtala Mohammed and Olusegun Obasanjo (1975-1979), intensified the Africa-centred orientation and gave it more aggressive expression, the foundational commitment to Africa as the centrepiece of Nigerian foreign policy originated with Tafawa Balewa's government at independence.
Question 32 Report
The Nigerian military cited which of the reasons for taking over the government in the country?
Answer Details
Throughout Nigeria's history, the military has intervened in governance through coups d'etat on several occasions. The most consistently cited justification by the military for taking over the government has been the mismanagement of public funds by the elected political leaders.
In virtually every military coup in Nigeria, the coup plotters pointed to corruption, financial mismanagement, and the looting of public resources by civilian politicians as the primary reason for their intervention:
While the other options touch on issues that existed, the mismanagement of public funds was the reason most frequently and prominently cited by the military in their broadcast statements justifying their seizure of power.
Question 33 Report
The NPN presidential candidate in the Second Republic was
Answer Details
The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was one of the major political parties in Nigeria's Second Republic (1979-1983). Its presidential candidate was Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who won the 1979 presidential election and became the first executive President of Nigeria under the 1979 Constitution.
Shehu Shagari won a contested election against candidates from other major parties. He secured victory in a result that was controversially upheld by the Supreme Court, particularly regarding whether he had met the constitutional requirement of winning at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the then 19 states.
The other candidates mentioned ran under different parties:
Question 34 Report
Government can ascertain feedback on public policy through
Answer Details
Government can ascertain feedback on public policy through public opinion. Public opinion refers to the collective views, attitudes, and beliefs held by the general population regarding government policies, political issues, and public affairs. It serves as a vital channel through which the government receives feedback on how its policies are perceived and whether they are meeting the needs of the citizenry.
Governments gauge public opinion through various means: opinion polls and surveys, public hearings, town hall meetings, media analysis, social media monitoring, petitions, protests, and the activities of pressure groups and civil society organisations. This feedback helps governments assess the effectiveness of their policies, identify areas of public concern, and make necessary adjustments.
The other options do not accurately describe the mechanism for receiving policy feedback. Mobilisation refers to organising people for a particular action or cause - it is an outward action by government or organisations, not a feedback mechanism. Electioneering refers to the campaign activities that precede an election - while elections reflect public sentiment, the campaigning process itself is not a feedback tool for existing policies. A political party is an organisation that seeks to gain political power - while parties may channel public views, the party itself is not the feedback mechanism; public opinion is.
Question 35 Report
A community that cooperates and harnesses its resources together is said to be practising
Answer Details
Communalism is a traditional system of social organisation in which members of a community cooperate, pool their resources, and work together for the common good of the group. Under communalism, land and other productive resources are often held collectively, and the fruits of communal labour are shared among community members.
This system was widely practised in pre-colonial African societies, where the extended family or village community worked together on farming, building, and other tasks. The emphasis is on collective ownership, mutual aid, and shared responsibility rather than individual accumulation of wealth.
The other options describe different economic or political ideologies:
The distinguishing feature of communalism is its voluntary, community-level cooperation without state control - unlike communism or socialism, which operate at the national or state level.
Question 36 Report
The party system that was operational in Nigeria under the aborted Third Republic was the
Answer Details
Nigeria's aborted Third Republic (1992-1993) operated under a two-party system. General Ibrahim Babangida's military administration created exactly two political parties for the transition programme: the Social Democratic Party (SDP), described as "a little to the left," and the National Republican Convention (NRC), described as "a little to the right."
This was a unique arrangement in Nigerian political history because both parties were created by the military government rather than emerging organically from the political landscape. The government wrote their constitutions, provided their initial funding, built their secretariats, and defined their ideological orientations. All other political associations were banned, ensuring that only these two parties could participate in the transition elections.
The Third Republic is described as "aborted" because the process never reached completion. The presidential election held on 12 June 1993, which was widely believed to have been won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola of the SDP, was annulled by the Babangida administration, effectively killing the transition to civilian rule.
This is distinct from the Second Republic (1979-1983), which operated a multi-party system with five registered parties, and the Fourth Republic (1999-present), which also operates a multi-party system.
Question 37 Report
When a constitution requires a special organ or a more difficult amendment procedure, such constitution is applicable in which system of government?
Answer Details
A constitution that requires a special organ or a more difficult amendment procedure is known as a rigid constitution, and this type of constitution is most closely associated with a federal system of government.
In a federal system, power is constitutionally divided between the central (federal) government and the component units (states or regions). To protect this division of powers and prevent either level of government from unilaterally altering the constitutional arrangement, the constitution is made rigid - that is, it requires a special, more complex procedure to amend. Typically, this involves:
For example, Nigeria's 1999 Constitution (a federal constitution) requires a two-thirds majority of both the Senate and House of Representatives, plus approval by at least two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly, to pass a constitutional amendment.
Parliamentary and unitary systems may use either rigid or flexible constitutions. A confederation typically operates through treaties rather than a single constitution. The federal system, however, inherently requires rigidity to safeguard the balance of power between levels of government.
Question 38 Report
One of the functions of Public Corporation is to
Answer Details
A public corporation (also called a public enterprise or parastatal) is a government-owned organisation established by an Act of Parliament or decree to provide essential services to the public. Examples include power supply (e.g. PHCN), water supply, postal services, and transportation corporations. The primary purpose of establishing public corporations is to ensure that vital services are available to citizens, particularly where private enterprise may not provide them efficiently or equitably.
While public corporations may indirectly contribute to preventing exploitation (by offering services at controlled prices) or promoting equality (by extending services to underserved areas), these are not their primary defined functions. Their core mandate is the provision of essential services that are critical to national development and public welfare.
Entertaining public complaints is a function more closely associated with the Public Complaints Commission (Ombudsman), not public corporations. This is a common source of confusion in examinations - the Public Complaints Commission and public corporations are distinct bodies with different mandates.
Question 39 Report
Census controversy was one of the factors that contributed to the military intervention in
Answer Details
The census controversy of 1962-1963 was one of the major political crises that contributed to the first military intervention in Nigeria in 1966. The 1962 census results were rejected amid allegations of inflation by the regions, and the 1963 recount produced figures that were equally disputed, deepening distrust between Nigeria's regions.
The census crisis combined with other factors, including the Western Region crisis of 1962 (the Action Group crisis), the controversial 1964 federal elections, and the disputed 1965 Western Region elections, created a climate of political instability. These cumulative crises led to the military coup of January 15, 1966, when a group of young military officers overthrew the civilian government of the First Republic.
The year 1967 saw the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War, not a military coup. The interventions of 1975 (Murtala Mohammed coup) and 1985 (Babangida coup) were military-to-military coups driven by different factors, not by the census controversy of the early 1960s.
Question 40 Report
The maintenance of peace, order and cleanliness in Igbo society was a function of
Answer Details
In the traditional Igbo political system, the maintenance of peace, order, and cleanliness in the community was the responsibility of the age grades.
Age grades (also called age groups or age sets) are organisations of people born within a certain range of years who are grouped together and assigned specific communal responsibilities. In Igbo society, age grades performed essential civic duties including:
While other institutions also played important roles in Igbo governance, their functions were different:
Age grades were effectively the executive arm of Igbo traditional governance, carrying out the practical tasks needed to maintain community life.
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