<P> Elections were held for a new and greatly enlarged House of Representatives in December 1959; 174 of the 312 seats were allocated to the Northern Region on the basis of its larger population . The NPC, entering candidates only in the Northern Region, confined campaigning largely to local issues but opposed the addition of new regimes . The NCNC backed creation of a midwest state and proposed federal control of education and health services . </P> <P> The Action Group, which staged a lively campaign, favoured stronger government and the establishment of three new states, while advocating creation of a West Africa Federation that would unite Nigeria with Ghana and Sierra Leone . The NPC captured 142 seats in the new legislature . Balewa was called on to head a NPC - NCNC coalition government, and Awolowo became official leader of the opposition . </P> <P> By a British Act of Parliament, Nigeria became an independent country (as a Commonwealth realm) within the Commonwealth on October 1, 1960 . Azikiwe was installed as governor - general of the federation and Balewa continued to serve as head of a democratically elected parliamentary, but now completely sovereign, government . The governor - general represented the British monarch as head of state and was appointed by the Crown on the advice of the Nigerian prime minister in consultation with the regional premiers . The governor - general, in turn, was responsible for appointing the prime minister and for choosing a candidate from among contending leaders when there was no parliamentary majority . Otherwise, the governor - general's office was essentially ceremonial . </P> <P> The government was responsible to a Parliament composed of the popularly elected 312 - member House of Representatives and the 44 - member Senate, chosen by the regional legislatures . </P>

Late 19th century and early 20th century british colonization of nigeria