Under the 1979 constitution of Nigeria, each State was allowed to elect________

Analyze the question: It asks how many senators each state could elect under the 1979 Constitution (the Second Republic's presidential system).

Concept: The 1979 Constitution set up a bicameral National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives). Representation in the Senate followed the principle of equality of states, regardless of a state's size or population. The House of Representatives, on the other hand, was based on population.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Senate representation under 1979 → equal for all states.
2. Option B (2 to 5 depending on population) mixes up Senate and House principles. Population does not determine Senate seats.
3. Option D (as many as the state can finance) has no constitutional basis.
4. Option A (three senators) is the number per state in the 1999 Constitution (plus one for the FCT). It is not the 1979 figure.
5. Under the 1979 Constitution, each of the 19 states elected five senators, giving a Senate of 95 members.

Answer: The correct option is C. five senators.

Tip: Remember the pairs:

• 1979: 5 senators per state (19 states × 5 = 95)
• 1999: 3 senators per state (36 states × 3 = 108, plus 1 for the FCT = 109)

Think "1979 = Five (high-five!), 1999 = Three."