The Politics of the First Republic: JAMB History Questions, Answers & Notes

What The Politics of the First Republic covers in the JAMB History syllabus

Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the first Prime Minister; it became a republic in 1963 with Nnamdi Azikiwe as first President. The First Republic operated a parliamentary system, but politics was largely organised along regional and ethnic lines among the Northern, Western and Eastern regions (a Mid-West was later added), which competed for resources and power at the centre. Serious problems developed: a crisis in the Western Region, disputes over census figures, and the disputed 1964 federal and 1965 Western elections, alongside corruption and electoral malpractice. These weaknesses and ethnic/regional rivalry destabilised the government, and the First Republic ended with a military coup in January 1966, in which the Prime Minister and several leaders were killed. The main point: the First Republic, weakened by regional rivalry and crises, ended in a military coup in 1966.

For The Politics of the First Republic, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Recall independence (1 Oct 1960), first PM (Balewa), first President (Azikiwe, 1963 republic), parliamentary system
• Explain regional/ethnic politics, the three regions, and crises (census, Western Region, 1964/65 elections)
• State the weaknesses and the end in the January 1966 military coup

Key facts & revision notes: The Politics of the First Republic

These are the recurring points our The Politics of the First Republic questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960.
• Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was Nigeria's first Prime Minister.
• Nnamdi Azikiwe became Nigeria's first President when it became a republic in 1963.
• Nigeria became a republic in 1963.
• The First Republic operated a parliamentary system of government.
• Politics was largely organised along regional and ethnic lines.
• The three main regions were the Northern, Western and Eastern (a Mid-West was later created).
• A crisis in the Western Region caused major political instability.
• Disputes over census figures (which affected representation and revenue) added to tension.
• The 1964 federal and 1965 Western elections were disputed and worsened the crisis.
• The First Republic ended with a military coup in January 1966.
• The January 1966 coup led to the deaths of the Prime Minister (Balewa) and several leaders.
• Weaknesses included ethnic/regional rivalry and mistrust.
• Corruption and electoral malpractice also weakened the First Republic.
• The regions competed for resources and control of power at the centre.
• Tafawa Balewa was the first Prime Minister.
• Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first President.
• The First Republic ended in a military coup in January 1966.
• The main point is that the First Republic, weakened by regional rivalry and crises, ended in a military coup in 1966.

Worked examples

Three The Politics of the First Republic questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How The Politics of the First Republic is tested in JAMB History

Our The Politics of the First Republic bank holds 20 questions (3 easy, 11 medium, 6 hard). JAMB History typically returns to The Politics of the First Republic year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer The Politics of the First Republic questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on The Politics of the First Republic. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one History item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at The Politics of the First Republic is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in The Politics of the First Republic

The errors that cost marks on The Politics of the First Republic are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise The Politics of the First Republic actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Politics of the First Republic part of the JAMB History syllabus?

Yes. The Politics of the First Republic is a recognised topic in the JAMB History syllabus, covering recall independence (1 Oct 1960), first PM (Balewa), first President (Azikiwe, 1963 republic), parliamentary system. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many The Politics of the First Republic questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 20 original, JAMB-standard The Politics of the First Republic questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about The Politics of the First Republic?

Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the first Prime Minister; it became a republic in 1963 with Nnamdi Azikiwe as first President. The First Republic operated a parliamentary system, but politics was largely organised along regional and ethnic lines among…

How do I answer The Politics of the First Republic questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for The Politics of the First Republic. Practising timed The Politics of the First Republic questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB History The Politics of the First Republic questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise The Politics of the First Republic questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start The Politics of the First Republic practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME History syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.