Post-UTME Government 2013 Past Questions & Answers

INEC is the acronym for the Independent National Electoral Commission. This is the official body established by the Nigerian Constitution to organize, conduct, and supervise all elections for federal and state offices in Nigeria. The 'Independent' in its name signifies that it is meant to operate without control from any person or authority to ensure fair elections.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose 'Independent National Election Committee' because it sounds very similar, but the correct legal term for the body is 'Commission', not 'Committee'.

Nigeria uses a 'first-past-the-post' or 'winner-takes-all' electoral system, where the candidate with the highest number of votes in a constituency wins the election. Proportional representation is a different system where political parties are given seats in the legislature based on the percentage of total votes they receive, which is not the system used in Nigeria. Features like direct election (citizens voting for candidates), general elections (nationwide polls), and secret ballot (voting in private) are all part of Nigeria's electoral process.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'direct election', thinking that the party primary system makes the main election indirect, but citizens do vote directly for their preferred candidates on election day.

In Nigeria, the government is divided into three arms: the Legislature (makes laws), the Executive (implements laws), and the Judiciary (interprets laws). The Judiciary is the system of courts, and its overall head is the Chief Justice of the Federation. This position is the highest in the judicial arm of government and also involves presiding over the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the country.

Common mistake: Students often mistakenly choose the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, but this person is the chief law officer of the executive branch and a political appointee, not the head of the independent judicial branch.

Gerrymandering is the specific political term for the practice of drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage over its rivals. This manipulation is done to influence the outcome of elections. Delimitation is the general process of drawing boundaries, but gerrymandering is when this process is manipulated for selfish political purposes.

Common mistake: Students often confuse gerrymandering with delimitation; however, delimitation is the neutral process of setting electoral boundaries, while gerrymandering is the deliberate manipulation of that process for political gain.

A guillotine motion is a specific procedure used in the legislature (parliament) to end a debate on a bill by a set deadline. This forces a vote on the bill, even if some members still want to speak. It is a tool to speed up the law-making process and prevent opponents from delaying a bill indefinitely through long speeches.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'adjournment' because it also means stopping a meeting, but an adjournment is just a temporary pause, while a guillotine permanently ends the debate on a specific bill to force a vote.

In Nigeria's federal system, electoral duties are divided between national and state bodies. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) handles federal and state elections, like for the President and Governors. The State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) are established by each state specifically to organize, conduct, and supervise all elections to local government councils within that state.

Common mistake: Students often confuse the functions of the state-level SIEC with the national body, INEC, which is responsible for conducting gubernatorial elections and registering political parties.

In Government, power is an abstract concept, not a physical thing you can hold or touch. It is defined as the ability to influence or control the actions of others, often making them do things they wouldn't normally do. This influence exists within a relationship between people or groups, so power is not a tangible object.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose option D because the idea of power as a 'relationship' can sound less direct than the other definitions, but power always requires at least two parties to exist.

Political activity at the diplomatic level is a broad term that covers how countries interact with each other. This includes the general study of their relationships ('International relations'), the power dynamics and decision-making between them ('International politics'), and the rules that govern their conduct ('International law'). Since all three options are correct descriptions of activities at the diplomatic level, 'All of the above' is the best answer.

Common mistake: Students often pick 'International relations' alone because it's a familiar term, not realizing that international politics and law are also essential components of diplomatic activity.

Instruments of foreign policy are the methods a country uses to achieve its international goals. War, diplomacy, and subversion are all direct actions used to influence or coerce other nations. Although foreign aid is also used to gain influence, it is considered the correct answer here because it is primarily a tool of economic assistance or support, unlike the others which are more direct forms of political or military pressure.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'war', thinking it represents a failure of policy, but war is internationally recognized as a tool to achieve foreign policy objectives when diplomacy fails.

Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria's foreign policy has been built on principles that show its sovereignty and independence. These principles include peaceful coexistence with other nations, the legal equality of all states, and non-alignment (not taking sides with major world powers). Political dependence, which means relying on another country for political direction, is the direct opposite of the independence Nigeria sought and is therefore not a guiding principle of its foreign policy.

Common mistake: Students might mistakenly choose 'non-alignment' because they are unsure of its meaning, but it is a core historical principle of Nigeria's foreign policy, meaning it avoided formal alliances with major power blocs.