How Samuel Akintola Used Violence and Fraud to Rig Western Nigeria’s 1965 Elections

In 1965, Chief Samuel Akintola seized control of Nigeria’s Western Region with support from the Northern authorities. Despite little popular backing, his party resorted to kidnappings, ballot shortages in opposition strongholds and outright stuffing to secure a landslide win. Following the rigged vote, protests erupted across the West. Playwright Wole Soyinka was arrested after storming a radio station, market women shut down stalls, towns experienced riots and one community burned to the ground. At Abeokuta, supporters of the ousted opposition even drove nails into the heads of a judge and clerk. Faced with mounting violence and the threat of civil uprising, Northern leaders moved to broker a coalition government under Akintola. While many Westerners rejected the plan, some saw it as the only way to avoid further bloodshed. (Source: a classic Time magazine report)

Use The App To Win ₦1m

Stories are shared by community members. This article does not represent the official view of NaijaWorld — the author is solely responsible for its content.