Generally, there are two theories about the causes of military intervention in Nigeria politics. The first theory relates to the internal characteristics of the military itself. This theory contends that military intervention in politics...
The third successful military coup in Nigeria was staged on 29th July, 1975 and Brigadier (later General) Murtala Muhammed emerged as the new Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The Western Regional Elections were held on 11th October, 1965 to elect members of the region’s House of Assembly. This was an election, which the new NNDP government needed to win to consolidate its hold on power in the region.
The Interim National Government was sacked by General Sani Abacha on 17th November, 1993 and, as expected, General Abacha Sanni quickly installed himself as the new Head of State.
In a palace coup that took place on 27th August, 1985, Major General Ibrahim Babangida, the Chief of Army Staff under the Buhari regime, emerged as the new Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation.
J.T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi Military Rule (January, 1966 – July, 1966) - The deep division in the political class and the military institution itself, encouraged a few young army officers to overthrow the civilian government of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa at the dawn of 15th January, 1966.
Lt Colonel Yakubu Gowon, the Chief of Army Staff under Ironsi, became the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces after the bloody coup d’etat of 29th July, 1966 which led to the assassination of General Aguiyi Ironsi and Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, the military governor of Western Nigeria and several military officers mainly of Igbo extraction. Ironsi was killed while on a state visit to the Western Region.
Following the sudden death of General Sani Abacha on 8th June, 1998, General Abdusalami Abubakar, the Chief of Defence Staff was appointed as the new Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The regime was therefore a child of circumstance.
The military once again seized power from a civilian government on 31st December, 1983. Major General Muhammadu Buhari emerged as the new Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
Components of Transition Programme In Nigeria - In Nigeria, the transition to civil rule programme has usually followed a predictable pattern. And the basic components of the transition programmes usually include the following...
The National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon (NCNC) was formed in 1944. The first president was Herbert Macaulay and the first general secretary was Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
The Peoples Democratic Party was formed on 28th July, 1998 and formally launched on 31st August, 1998. It was one of the three parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 1999 elections.
The ANPP began as All Peoples Party (APP) in 1998 but, it has since May 2002 changed its name to All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).
Its pioneer National Chairman was Alhaji Mahmud Waziri. Those who have served in the position after him include Alhaji Aliyu Akwei Doma, Chief Alani Bankole, Alhaji Yussuf Ali, Governor Attahiru Bafarawa (interim Chairman), Chief Don Etiebet, Governor Bunu Sheriff Musa (interim Chairman), Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, and Dr. Ogbonaya Onu.
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) previously Action Congress (AC) was established in 2005 as a result of the crisis in the Alliance for Democracy. The power behind the formation of the ACN was Alhaji Ahmed Bola Tinubu who was the then Alliance For Democracy Governor of Lagos State. Other principal members of the party are Chief Bisi Akande, Mr. Audu Ogbe and Dr. Christ Ngige.
The Alliance for Democracy was established in 1998 by former close associates of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late leader of the Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria. In particular, the party was formed to promote the cause of the Yoruba people in the Nigerian federation following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by Chief M. K. O. Abiola, a Yoruba multi-millionaire businessman.
Like the SDP, the National Republican Convention (NRC) was formed and sponsored by the Federal Military Government. The first Chairman of the National Republican Convention party was Chief Tom Ikimi and he was succeeded by Dr. Hamed Kusamotu. Other prominent members of the NRC political party were Alhahi Umaru Shinkafl, Chief Evans Enwerem and Alhaji Bashir Tofa, the party’s presidential candidate in the 1993 presidential elections.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was created by the Federal Military Government in 1989 as part of its transition to civil rule programme. Alhaji Baba Gana Kingibe was the first Chairman of the party.
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.
