Colonial era and first republic

The Northern People’s Congress (NPC)-Organizational Structure

In December , 1949, a cultural organisation known as Jamiyar Mutanen Arewa was founded in the North. This cultural organization was in 1951 transformed into a political party known as Northern People’s Congress (NPC).

The leadership of the of the NPC was placed on Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and he was he was assisted by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

The motto of NPC was ‘One North, One People Irrespective of Religion, Rank or Tribe.’

Objectives of NPC

The main objective of NPC was to attain self-government for Nigeria and the introduction of a permanent Federal Constitution.

Performance of NPC

The NPC dominated  the politics of the Northern region throughout the first region till it was dissolved by a decree in 1966, after the military take over.

The Action Group (AG) –Organizational Structure

The Action Group (AG) was a Nigerian political party established in Ibadan on March 21, 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The party was founded to serve as the platform for realizing his preliminary objective of mobilising Western Nigerians to forestall the NCNC control of the Western Region and the subsequent aim of cooperating with other nationalist parties to win independence for Nigeria.

It benefitted immensely from the relationships developed in the Egbe Omo Oduduwa formed in Awolowo’s days in London as a student.

Objectives of AG

This was to contest and win the election held under the Macpherson Constitution in the West and thus capture the power in that region.

Performance

The party dominated the activities of the Western region throughout First Republic

United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC)

United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) was a political party in Nigeria during the nation’s First Republic. The Party was a fusion of two major middle belt organizations, the Middle Zone League and the Middle Belt Peoples’ Party. The party was formed to create a political platform for the various ethnic groups in central Nigeria covering parts of present-day Benue State, Kogi State, Plateau State, Nasarawa State, Adamawa State and Kwara State.

Some of the early leaders of the UMBC were Joseph Tarka, David Lot, Patrick Dokotri, Edward Kundu Swem, Ahmadu Angara, Isaac Shaahu (Northern Assembly Opposition Leader), Solomon Lar, D. Bulus Biliyong, D.D. Dimka, V.T. Shisha, M.D. Iyorka, Ugba Uyeh and Vincent Igbarumun Orjime. The party adopted a decentralized nomination system whereby local ethnic unions or special committees in a given area nominated and presented candidates for local elections, this was partly used to validate the ethnic diversity of the party.

Objectives of UMBC

Its establishment was an act to ensure an alternative minority voice in the Northern Nigeria Assembly which was dominated by the Northern People’s Congress, a political party which the central Nigerian leaders felt had the potential to curb the middle belt’s political voice.

Performance of UMBC

The UMBC in due time, became the Third largest opposition party in the Northern Nigeria Assembly. In 1958, the UMBC entered into an alliance with the Southwest Nigeria dominant Action Group of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Exercises

1. What was the main agenda of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC)?
2. Explain the organizational structure of the Action Group (AG).
3. State the two major organizations that formed the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) .
4. What was the main objective of the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC)?