Along the line some things got wrong with the constitution. Lets emphasize on it.
COLLAPSE OR BREAKDOWN OF MACPHERSON’S CONSTITUTION
In spite of all the consultations made and the introduction of unofficial majority by the constitution, it still collapsed in 1953. Some of the causes of its collapse were; the exclusion of Nnamdi Azikiwe from the House of Representatives, the crisis in the Eastern House of Assembly, 1956 motion for self-government and the Kano Riot of 1953.
1. The Exclusion of Nnamdi Azikiwe from The House of Representative: three major political parties; NCNC, Action Group and the NPC contested election into the western region house of assembly. Nnamdi Azikiwe won his seat in Lagos, but the Action Group excluded him from the House of Representatives and that made the NCNC representatives in the house threatened to boycott the house.
2. Crisis in The Eastern House of Assembly: the eastern region crisis was as a result of the internal crisis in the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroun (NCNC) caused by
(i) the inability of the party members in the West to elect Zik( Nnamdi Azikiwe) to the central legislature.
(ii) the party members did not agree on the continual support of Macpherson`s constitution. Debate on whether to continue its support led to divisions in the Eastern House of Assembly and its eventual dissolution 6th May, 1953.
3. The 1956 Motion for Self-Government: on 1st April 1953, chief Anthony Enahoro, a member of Action Group political party from western region asked that the House of Representatives accept `as a primary political objective the attainment of self-government for Nigeria in 1956`.Northern leaders in the legislature objected to the motion and the council of ministers became divided. Sir Ahmadu Bello suggested that the motion be changed to read that the House of Representatives accept `as a primary objective the attainment of self-government for Nigeria as soon as practicable`. This led to the resignation of the Action Group members of the council of ministers. Consequently, the House went on recess to enable the legislators liaise with their constituents on the question of independence in 1956. The northern legislators were attacked in Lagos because of their stand on Enahoro`s motion.
4. The Kano Riot of 1953: the NCNC and the Action Group parliamentarians decided to send a delegation to the north to educate them on the need for self- government in 1956. The purpose of the delegation was to make sure that the view of the NPC leaders on independence actually represented northern opinion. An attempt to address a rally in Kano on May, 1953 resulted in the Kano Riot of 1953 in retaliation for what the northern delegates suffered in Lagos. After the riot, the northerners threatened to secede and came with an eight-point Programme designed to severe relationship with the south. On 21st May, 1953, the secretary of State for the colonies, Oliver
Lyttleton announced in the House of Commons in London that a new constitution would be worked out for Nigeria.
