United Nigeria Congress Party

The United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) was a Nigerian political party that was one of the five state-sanctioned political parties allowed by the government of General Sani Abacha to participate in state assembly elections held in December 1997, in which it won many elections, and in parliamentary elections held in April 1998. The UNCP was considered by many government opponents to be the army’s proxy.[1]

The UNCP was clearly a right-wing party, with a broader base and acceptance than the left-wing Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) headed by Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf.[2] The other authorized parties were the Congress for National Consensus (CNC), Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) and the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN).[3] The UNCP was the largest of these political parties, and one of four (out of five) to support Abacha standing as a presidential candidate.[4]

When General Abdulsalami Abubakar succeeded Sani Abacha after the latter's death in July 1998, he dissolved the five parties and announced that democratic elections would be held during the first quarter of 1999. He proposed the free formation of political parties, an independent judiciary, international electoral monitors.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Nigeria in Political Transition". Congressional Research Service, US Library of Congress. July 28, 2006. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  2. ↑ Kalu Okwara (1 October 2009). "Nigeria At 49 - Any Hope for Party Democracy?". Daily Champion. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  3. ↑ Louis I. Okoroma (27 September 2009). "Development Of Nigerian Political Parties Since Independence". Leadership. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  4. ↑ "Police arrest 50 Lagos protesters, one person killed". A-Infos News Service. 4 March 1998. Retrieved 2009-11-23.
  5. ↑ Remi Oyo and Toye Olori (22 July 1998). "New Political Parties Formed In Nigeria". IPS. Retrieved 2009-11-23.