ABSTRACT
One of the most important events in contemporary African history was Nigeria's return to civilian rule through elections for national and state executives and legislatures in 1979. Although there were many difficulties in administering the elections, most observers felt that the elections were generally free of the administrative and political interventions that had characterized many earlier Nigerian elections. Nonetheless, the elections were not without controversy over their outcomes, legitimacy, and meaning. The presidential results were contested in the special electoral tribunals and in the courts, as were many state contests.
