The Arthur Richards Constitution of 1946 introduced the concept of regionalism in Nigeria. This constitution divided the country into three regions: Northern, Western and Eastern. The goal was to decentralise power and give more autonomy to these regions, which were largely divided along ethnic and cultural lines. This marked a significant shift in Nigeria's governance structure, as it laid the foundation for regional representation and administration.

This move was partly influenced by the need to address the diverse nature of Nigeria's population and to promote unity while recognising regional differences. However, it also unintentionally sowed the seeds of political division along regional lines.