Government & Politics

The Nigerian Advance Party (NAP) was one of the political parties denied registration by FEDECO in 1978. It was registered on 24th May, 1982 and its registration was seen by the Opposition as a ploy by the ruling NPN government to undermine the dominance of the UPN in the South-Westem states.

The Great Nigerian People’s Party (GNPP) was formed towards the end of 1978 by a splinter group which broke away from the NPP following the entry of Dr. Azikiwe into the presidential race on the platform of the NPP in 1978. The GNPP was led by Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim; a former NPC stalwart With a liberal orientation who himself had presidential ambition. The party was therefore fashioned to achieve this objective.

Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) - Like the other parties registered for the 1979 elections (except the UPN), the NPP had its origin in the Northern part of Nigeria. The party was an offshoot of the Council for Understanding and Solidarity (CUS), which was formed by some members of the Constituent Assembly in 1977.

The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) was formed in September 1978. The party developed out of a body known as the Northern Movement, a group of old and young politicians from the Northern part of the country. One thing that bound together members of the Northern Movement was their belief that political elites of the North should provide leadership in any national government.

The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) was the first political party to be formed after the ban on politics was lifted in September 1978. Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the founder of the party which was an amalgam of various groups that were loyal to him. One of the groups was the Committee of - Friends, a circle of friends who had been actively involved in Chief Awolowo’s several political battles including the treason trial of 1962.