Date: October 1, 1963.
Nigeria severed its remaining ties to Britain, marking the birth of the Nigerian First Republic:
On October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a republic, formally severing its last constitutional ties with Britain.
Before this, Nigeria had gained independence from British colonial rule on October 1, 1960, but remained a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, represented by a Governor-General.
With the adoption of a new republican constitution in 1963, Nigeria replaced the British monarch with a ceremonial president, making Nnamdi Azikiwe the country’s first President. This transition marked the birth of the Nigerian First Republic, ushering in a fully sovereign state with a parliamentary system of government led by Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
The establishment of the republic was a significant step in Nigeria’s political evolution, reinforcing its autonomy and setting the stage for the democratic governance of the time—though this era would eventually be cut short by a military coup in 1966.
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