From last week, continues the list of names of the ministers produced following the alliance between the Northern Peoples Congress, NPC, and the Nigerian National Democratic Party, NNDP that gave birth to the NNA in the First Republic. 

Others were Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister and External Affairs), Alhaji Muhammadu Ribadu (Defence), Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh(Finance), Alhaji Shehu Shagari(Internal Affairs), Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Wada(Works), Alhaji Zanna Bukar Dipcharima(Transport), Mr. Raymond Njoku(Communications), Dr. Kingsley O. Mbadiwe(Trade), Mr. Jaja Wachukwu (Aviation), Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya (Housing and Surveys), Chief A.M.A. Akinloye (Industries), Chief Ayo Rosiji(Information), Mr. R.A. Akinjide(Education), Mr. Adeleke Adedoyin(Labour), Mr. Alade Lamuye (Natural Resources and Research), Alhaji Yusufu Maitama Sule (Mines and Power), Alhaji Waziri A. Ibrahim(Economic Development), Dr. T.O. Elias (Attorney-General and Justice), Dr. M.A. Majekodunmi(Health) and Chief J.C. Obande (Establishments). 

Still fresh in memory was the NPN-NPP accord under a presidential system of government. On August 9, 1979 the then Chief Justice of the Federation, Sir Darnley Arthur Alexander (January 28, 1920-February 10, 1989), who was born in Castries, Saint Lucia in the Caribbean but came to Nigeria in 1957, on the invitation of the Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, constituted elections tribunals that would give judgements on various petitions that may arise on the Senate, House of Representatives, gubernatorial and state assembly elections. He acted on the electoral decree 1977. The tribunals were for Imo, Gongola, Lagos and Kaduna zones.

For Imo zone, Justice Alexander named Honourable Justices A. A. Adeoba(chairman), F.I. E. Ukattuh and A.A. Ononuju as members. For Gongola zone Honourable Justices D.E.Y. Aghahowa (Chairman), M.U. Anisiobi and Alhaji Garba Alfa Tarfan as members; while for Lagos zone, Honourable Justices A. Allagoa, A. Desalu and A. O. Ejiwunmi were named. Kaduna zone included Honurable Justice S.E.J. Ecoma(Chairman), Alhaji Bashir Sambo and Mr. S. A. Ibiyeye as members. 

On the same day of August 9, 1979, Justice Alexander constituted the election tribunal on the presidential election. Members of the tribunal were Justice Boonyamin Oladiran Kazeem (Chairman) while Justice A.I. Aseme and Justice A.B. Wali were members. 

Justice Kazeem was born in Lagos on August 29, 1922. He had his education at the Government School, Lagos; Christ Missionary Society Grammar School, Lagos; and the University of London, England. He was called to the Bar and as clerk, 1942-1950; crown counsel, 1954-1959; senior crown counsel, 1959-1961; principal crown counsel, 1961-1963; legal adviser, 1963-1964; deputy solicitor-general, 1964-1965; solicitor-general general and permanent secretary, 1965-1967; judge High Court, Lagos, 1967-1976; appointed judge, Federal Court of Appeal, 1977; member, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs; and member, Nigerian Society of International Law.

Justice Kazeem was later elevated to the Court of Appeal and to the Supreme Court. On August 11, 1979, the senate and presidential elections were held throughout the country. 

On August 17, 1979, the Federal Electoral Commission declared Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari as the winner of the presidential election.  In a two-page prepared statement read at a press conference in Lagos by the returning officer, Mr. Fredrick Menkiti, the Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, said Alhaji Usman Aliyu Shehu Shagari (February 25, 1925- December 28, 2018), satisfied the provision of section 34 (A), subsection (1)(C)(1) of the Electoral Decree No. 73 of 1977 by scoring the highest number of votes cast at the election. 

To be concluded