'Casting vote' was one of the ways the Governor in British West Africa controlled the

Analyze the question: A "casting vote" is the extra deciding vote given to a presiding officer when votes are tied. So we need the body the Governor presided over, where he could break a tie.

Explain the concept: Under British colonial rule in West Africa (for example, Nigeria under the Clifford Constitution of 1922 and the Richards Constitution of 1946), the Governor was the President of the Legislative Council. He had both an ordinary vote and a casting vote. Together with the official majority in the Council (colonial officials who supported the Governor), this let him control the passage of laws. He could also use his reserve powers to make sure any bill he wanted became law.

Check the options:

• A. Colonial treasurer: an appointed official who served under the Governor. He was not a voting body.
• B. Colonial secretary: also an appointed official who served under the Governor. He was not a voting body.
• C. Native authority: this was run through indirect rule by traditional rulers, and the Governor did not preside over it with votes.
• D. Legislative council: the Governor presided over it and held a casting vote in it. This is correct.

Answer: The Governor used the casting vote to control the Legislative Council.

Exam tip: Link keywords to institutions. "Casting vote" means a vote-taking body with a presiding officer, which here is the Legislative Council with the Governor as President. Think of it as "Governor + Legislative Council = control of lawmaking."