The Limitations to the power of the Governor in the Colonial Administration of Nigeria before the Second World War include:
(i) Before the evolution of second world war, the Governor in the colonial administration of Nigeria, was appointed by the secretary of state for the colonies in London, a cabinet minister and was directly responsible to the parliament.
(ii) The governor had the power to veto the advice of both the legislature and executive councils, but explanations must be made to the secretary of state for acting likewise. These are limitations to his powers (Governor)
(iii) Citizens of Nigeria, who felt injured or aggrieved with the administration and even any member of either the executive or legislative councils and not supportive of the government programme can petition the secretary of state.
(iv) The secretary of state had the power to approve the major policies and even the annual budget as proposed by the Governor. This is a limitation to his powers as well.
(v) The powers of the Governors were also limited by some newspapers write-ups e.g Lagos Daily News, West African Pilot, etc.
(vi) The British opposition party (Labour party) had, for long, stood against colonialism and other opinions expressed by some international organisations were limitations to the powers of the Governor.
(vii) The role played by some nationalists organisations e.g Nigerian Youth Movement, National Congress of British West African (1920), etc., are some of the factors that contributed to the limitations of the powers of the Governor.
(viii) Some of the demonstrations, riots, etc., for e.g. the Aba Women's Riot of 1929, etc. was a limitation to the powers of the Governor.