Under the Clifford Constitution of 1922, the introduction of the elective principle marked a major milestone in Nigeria's political history. However, its implementation was tightly controlled by colonial authorities. Which of the following statements accurately describes the operational scope and franchise qualifications of the elective principle under this constitution?
- Elected representation was limited to four seats in the Legislative Council (three for Lagos and one for Calabar), restricted to adult males with a minimum gross income of £100 per annum.Answer
- BVoting rights were extended nationwide across all provinces, allowing adult taxpayers to elect majority unofficial members into both the Executive and Legislative Councils.
- CDirect elections were conducted throughout Northern and Southern Nigeria to select native authority representatives for the Governor's Advisory Council.
- DUniversal adult suffrage was introduced in major urban municipalities, enabling both male and female residents to vote without income restrictions.
Answer
Elected representation was limited to four seats in the Legislative Council (three for Lagos and one for Calabar), restricted to adult males with a minimum gross income of £100 per annum.
The Clifford Constitution of 1922 introduced the elective principle to British West Africa for the first time, but restricted elected representation to four seats in the Legislative Council (three for Lagos and one for Calabar). Franchise qualifications were stringent: voters had to be male adult British subjects or protected persons with 12 months of local residence and an annual gross income of at least £100.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Scope and Franchise Qualifications of the 1922 Clifford Constitution