AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE

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Sub-National Referenda in Sub-Saharan Africa
 
 
Comoros
 
See Sub-National Elections in the Comoros for referenda held at the island level.
 
Ghana
 
09 May 1956 British Togoland Plebiscite*
Main Points: Voters were asked if they wanted to join the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana).

Registered Voters

272,663

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

224,413

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Votes in Favor of Union with the Gold Coast (Ghana)

142,214

63.37%

Votes in Favor of Separation [Against Union with the Gold Coast (Ghana)]

80,199

36.63%

 
Namibia
 
06 May 1990 Rehoboth Referendum*
Main Points: Autonomy and Special Rights for the Baster people.

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

9,289

Results

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

84.1%

"No" Votes

15.9%

*Unofficial, Not Recognized by the Namibian Government.
 
Nigeria
 
November 1959 British Northern Cameroons Plebiscite
Main Points: Voters were asked if they wanted to join Nigeria when it becomes independent or decide the political status at a later date.

Registered Voters

129,549

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

113,859 (87.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       525

Total Valid Votes

113,334

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Union with Nigeria

42,788

27.75%

Postpone Decision

70,546

62.25%

 
11-12 February 1961 British Cameroons Plebiscite
Main Points: Voters were asked if they wanted to unite with Nigeria or Cameroon when independence is granted to the two regions.
Northern Cameroons

Registered Voters

292,985

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

243,955

Southern Cameroons

Registered Voters

349,652

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

331,312

Results

Northern Cameroons

Southern Cameroons

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Union with the Federation of Nigeria

146,296

59.97%

97,741

29.50%

Union with the Republic of Cameroon

97,659

40.03%

233,571

70.50%

 
13 July 1963 Referendum
Main Points: Creation of the Midwest Region from a portion of the Western Region.
Ballot Question: "Do you agree that the Midwestern Region Act, 1962, shall have effect so as to secure that Benin Province including Akoko Edo District in the Afenmai Division and Delta Province including Warri Division and Warri Urban Township area shall be included in the proposed Mid-Western Region?"

Registered Voters

654,130

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (89.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

586,295

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

579,077

98.77%

"No" Votes

7,218

01.23%

 
South Africa
 
10 June 1909 Natal Province Referendum
Main Points: Joining the Union of South Africa

Registered Voters

25,463

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (58.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

14,822

Results

Number of Votes

% of Votes

"Yes" Votes

11,121

75.03%

"No" Votes

3,701

24.97%

 
Uganda
 
04 November 1964 "Lost Counties" Referendum
Background/Main Points: The colonial authorities had handed the two counties from Bunyoro Kingdom to Buganda Kingdom, seeing as they harbor important burial grounds, but the population of Buganda didn’t adhere to the particular beliefs in question. Voters were given the choice of unification with the Bunyoro Kingdom, creation of a separate (proper) district that would be part of neither kingdom, or remain a part of the Buganda Kingdom.
Bugangaizi County

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

5,590

Buyaga County

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

9,666

Results

Bugangaizi County

Buyaga County

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Unification with Bunyoro

3,275

58.59%

8,327

86.15%

Remain part of Buganda

2,253

40.30%

1,289

13.34%

Proper District

62

01.11%

50

00.51%