in 1957, npc won the plurality of votes in the federal house of representatives and balewa became the chief minister and designated prime minister. as part of his plans to unify the country towards the move for independence in 1960, he formed a coalition government between the npc and the national council of nigeria and the cameroons (ncnc), led by nnamdi azikiwe and also invited the action group (a.g.), the 1957 cabinet was constituted as an all party cabinet. though, awolowo, the leader of a.g. and premier of the western region was skeptical of the plan, the national executive committee of action group party endorsed the national government and ayo rosiji and samuel akintola were nominated by the party. during this period, balewa developed a close relationship with k.o. mbadiwe from ncnc and akintola from ag.