| a) Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Federation of Nigeria or, b) Do you wish to achieve independence by joining the independent Republic of Cameroon? | |
| Country: | British Cameroon |
| Part1 Subject: | Northern Cameroons |
| Part1 Choice1: | Federation of Nigeria |
| Part1 Percentage1: | 59.97 |
| Part1 Percentage2: | 40.03 |
| Part2 Subject: | Southern Cameroons |
| Part2 Choice1: | Federation of Nigeria |
| Part2 Percentage1: | 29.50 |
| Part2 Percentage2: | 70.50 |
A United Nations referendum was held in the British Cameroons on 11 February 1961 to determine whether the territory should join neighbouring Cameroon or Nigeria. This followed an earlier plebiscite in the Northern Cameroons in 1959 which voted to postpone a decision. The option of full independence was not on the ballot, having been opposed by Andrew Cohen, the UK representative to the UN Trusteeship Council, as well as African and anti-colonial delegations, notably by E. M. L. Endeley, who favoured independence by joining Nigeria, and John Ngu Foncha, who favoured independence by joining Francophone Cameroon.[1]
The Muslim-majority Northern Cameroons saw a majority of 60% in favour of joining Nigeria, whilst the Christian-majority Southern Cameroons saw 70.5% in favour of joining Cameroon.[2] Northern Cameroon officially became Sardauna Province, a part of the Northern Region of Nigeria, on 1 June, whilst the Southern Cameroons became West Cameroon, one of the two federated states of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, on 1 October.
| Choice | Northern Cameroons | Southern Cameroons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |
| Independence by joining Cameroon | 97,659 | 40.0 | 233,571 | 70.5 |
| Independence by joining Nigeria | 146,296 | 60.0 | 97,741 | 29.5 |
| Invalid/blank votes | – | – | ||
| Total | 243,955 | 100 | 331,312 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 292,985 | 349,652 | ||
| Source: Nohlen et al., African Elections Database | ||||