A 1983 Political Campaign Leaflet: “Guide to Elections ’83” and the Politics of Nigeria’s Second Republic

The image depicts a political campaign leaflet from Nigeria’s 1983 general elections titled “Guide to Elections ’83.” The document serves as an example of the intense political rivalry and propaganda that characterized Nigeria’s Second Republic (1979–1983), a period marked by party competition and regional political tensions.

The leaflet features a section titled “Awo on Hausa/Fulani, Islam Etc.” which quotes a controversial text attributed to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalist leaders and the presidential candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). The excerpt makes several sweeping remarks about the Hausa/Fulani people and their religious beliefs, portraying them as impoverished, heavily taxed, and inclined toward fatalism due to their religious orientation.

The document’s use of this quotation appears to have been a political strategy by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) to influence public opinion against Awolowo and the UPN. By circulating such material, the NPN sought to appeal to northern and Muslim voters while portraying Awolowo as divisive or unsympathetic to certain ethnic and religious groups.

The leaflet strongly endorses the NPN candidates for the 1983 elections — Alhaji Shehu Shagari for President and Chief (Dr.) Victor Omololu Olunloyo for Governor of Oyo State. It was officially issued by the Oyo State NPN Gubernatorial Campaign Office, located in Molete, Ibadan.

This campaign material reflects the highly polarized nature of Nigerian politics in the early 1980s, when political messaging often revolved around ethnicity, religion, and regional identity. The 1983 elections themselves were marred by allegations of electoral manipulation and violence, culminating in a military coup later that year, which brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power.

The leaflet now serves as a historical artifact, illustrating how political communication and propaganda were deployed during Nigeria’s brief experiment with democracy before the return of military rule.

Sources:

National Archives of Nigeria, Ibadan: “Guide to Elections ’83” (Oyo State NPN Campaign Materials, 1983).

Falola, Toyin & Heaton, Matthew. A History of Nigeria. Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Sklar, Richard L. Nigerian Political Parties: Power in an Emergent African Nation. Africa World Press, 2004.