The Politics of the First Republic and

Contents & notes: what this topic covers

Under The Politics of the First Republic and, the JAMB History syllabus expects you to study:

• 1. The Politics of the First Republic and Military intervention a. Struggle for the control of the centre;
• b. Issue of revenue allocation c. The 1962/63 census controversies i d. The 1963 Republican constitution e. Minority agitations f. The Action Group crisis and the General Elections of 1964/65.
• g. The coup d’etat of January 1966 and the counter coup of July, 1966 h. The Ironsi Regime.

Study notes & guidance

Study The Politics of the First Republic and using a recommended History textbook that follows the JAMB syllabus. Work through the contents listed above one by one, make brief notes in your own words, and then practise as many questions on this topic as you can — in History, understanding and steady practice matter far more than memorising. Use the objectives below as a checklist: if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Objectives — candidates should be able to

After studying The Politics of the First Republic and, you should be able to:

1. Give reasons behind the struggle for the control of the centre;
2. Account for the controversies in revenue allocation;
3. Account for the controversies generated by the 1962/63 census;
4. Highlight the key features and significance of the 1963 constitution
5. Account for the controversies generated by minority agitations and the quest for creation of states;
6. Examine the problems created by the Action Group crisis and the General Elections of 1964/65;
7. Analyse the consequences of the 1966 military intervention.

These objectives are from the official JAMB syllabus. Use them as a checklist — if you can do each one confidently, you have mastered this topic.

Source: official JAMB UTME History syllabus (IBASS, jamb.gov.ng). Reproduced for study use. Last checked: 17 Sept 2026. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.