Which region ignited the census crisis of 1963 by not accepting the government’s figures?

Analyze the question: It asks which region started the 1963 census crisis by rejecting the government's figures.

Background: Nigeria held a census in 1962, which was cancelled after allegations of inflated figures. A fresh census was held in 1963. The results gave these approximate totals:

• Northern Region: about 29.8 million (more than half of Nigeria's population)
• Eastern Region: about 12.4 million
• Western Region: about 10.3 million
• Mid-Western Region: about 2.5 million
• Lagos: about 0.7 million

Who rejected the figures? The Eastern Region, led by Premier Michael Okpara of the NCNC, rejected the results. He alleged that the figures had been inflated, especially for the North. The Eastern government went to court to challenge them, and the Western Region also voiced complaints.

The question asks which region "ignited" the crisis by not accepting the figures. The Eastern Region was the first to reject them. The Northern Region defended the results, since they favoured it, and the Mid-Western Region and Lagos were not the main objectors.

Answer: The Eastern Region (Option A).

Why this matters: The census determined the number of seats in the Federal House of Representatives, so population figures meant political power. The dispute deepened North-South tension and contributed to the crisis of the 1964 federal elections.

Tip: Remember "1963 census: East cried foul." The East, under Okpara, rejected it, and the North, which benefited, defended it.