The Cabinet or parliamentary system of government is an executive based on parliamentary majority. It is sometimes known as party government. It is the leader of the party that wins the largest majority in parliament in a general election that is called upon to form a government. He becomes the Prime Minister if he is able to form a government.

The mid 1960s was a watershed in the political history of Nigeria as the country had to contend with several grave political crises. One of those political crises that almost led to the disintegration of the country was the civil war which began on 6th July, 1967 and formally ended on 15th January, 1970.