NIGERIA EXAM

Unit 1: Political Systems, Regimes, and Governments

Q1: What type of political regime does Nigeria have?
A1: A federal presidential democracy with regular elections since 1999.

Q2: What are two major political parties in Nigeria?
A2: All Progressives Congress (APC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Q3: What is the "federal character principle"?
A3: A constitutional mandate for equitable representation of Nigeria's diverse groups in public offices.

Q4: Name one event that showed peaceful democratic transition in Nigeria.
A4: The 2015 presidential election when power shifted from PDP to APC.

Q5: What are two major challenges to Nigeria’s democratic legitimacy?
A5: Corruption and security threats like Boko Haram and banditry.

🏛 Unit 2: Political Institutions

Q6: What are the main roles of the Nigerian President?
A6: Head of state and government, commander-in-chief, cabinet appointments, policy leadership.

Q7: How is Nigeria’s legislature structured?
A7: Bicameral: Senate (109 seats) and House of Representatives (360 seats).

Q8: What limits the Nigerian judiciary's independence?
A8: Political influence, underfunding, and overlapping legal systems (secular, Sharia, customary).

Q9: What is "zoning" in Nigerian politics?
A9: Informal practice of rotating the presidency between the North and South.

Q10: What powers does the National Assembly have?
A10: Lawmaking, budget approval, executive oversight, and impeachment authority.

👥 Unit 3: Political Culture and Participation

Q11: What role did civil society play in Nigeria's democratization?
A11: It mobilized protests and opposition, especially during military rule in the 1990s.

Q12: What is the dominant political identity in Nigeria?
A12: Ethnic and regional identity over national identity.

Q13: What informal political participation has been significant in Nigeria?
A13: Protests, such as the 2020 #EndSARS movement against police brutality.

Q14: What barriers limit formal participation in Nigeria?
A14: Poverty, illiteracy, insecurity, and vote-buying.

Q15: How is political socialization shaped in Nigeria?
A15: Through family, religion, ethnicity, education, and regional influences.

🗳 Unit 4: Parties, Elections & Citizen Organizations

Q16: What kind of electoral system does Nigeria use for presidential elections?
A16: Direct election requiring a plurality and 25% of votes in at least 2/3 of states.

Q17: How are National Assembly members elected?
A17: First-past-the-post in single-member districts (Senate: 3 per state, House: population-based).

Q18: What is the role of INEC?
A18: Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission manages elections and works to reduce fraud.

Q19: Give an example of a civil society movement in Nigeria.
A19: EndSARS (2020), a youth-led protest against police brutality.

Q20: What are some challenges to Nigeria’s electoral process?
A20: Vote buying, violence, logistical failures, and disputed results.

💰 Unit 5: Political & Economic Change

Q21: What is Nigeria’s major export and revenue source?
A21: Oil — over 90% of exports and 70% of government revenue.

Q22: What is the “resource curse” in Nigeria’s context?
A22: Oil wealth leading to corruption, conflict, and economic instability.

Q23: Name one major economic reform in Nigeria.
A23: The Structural Adjustment Program (1986) or fuel subsidy reductions.

Q24: How does globalization affect Nigeria’s politics?
A24: Through foreign investment, corruption networks, migration, and ECOWAS membership.

Q25: What is the political significance of Nigeria’s youth bulge?
A25: High youth unemployment fuels protests and political pressure; can lead to instability or reform.