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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.

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 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 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.

The purposes and functions of elections in the political systems include the Clarification of Issues, Selection of Candidates for Public Office, Peaceful Transfer of Power, Political Participation and Communication.

Absolute majority is another form of geographical representation. It means that a candidate is elected if he secured more than 50% of the total votes cast in an election. To secure an absolute majority the candidate must win at least 50% + 1% (51%) of the total votes.

Government as an institution of the state may be defined as a machinery established by the state to organize the state, manage it’s affairs and administer it’s functions and duties. It is also seen as a machinery through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and realised.

The main features of the 1979 constitution of Nigeria second republic included the following - Promotion of National Unity, Introduction of Presidential System of Government, National Assembly, The Judiciary and Retention of Federalism System of Government.

The 1979 republican constitution which came into effect on 1st October, 1979 was the first post-military constitution in Nigeria. The constitution was prepared and promulgated by the Murtala/Obasanjo Federal Military Government but not until after several futile attempts had been made by previous military governments to implement a transition programme.

The 1989 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was unique in many respects. Unlike previous ones, the 1989 Constitution was never fully implemented. In other words, it did not lead to the total disengagement of the military from politics.