The United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) is one of the five registered political parties in Nigeria (AC 3 Apr. 1998; ARB March 1998, IPS 22 April 1998). The other four are: The Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), the National Center Party of Nigeria (NCPN), the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), and Congress for National Consensus (CNC) (ibid.).

The chairman of the UNCP, Alhaji Isa Mohammed (Nigeria Today,

2 Jan. 1998). Also among its leadership are Chief Emeka Ojukwu, former commander of the Biafran forces; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the publisher of Champion; and General Joe Garba, former minister and permanent representative to the United Nations (16 Apr. 1996). AFP states that three senior leaders quit their posts in January 1998 in order to stand for the April 25 "bi-cameral national assembly" elections. These include the party's publicity secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, Bode Olajumoke, the party's vice-chairman, and national party treasurer, Alli Modu Sheriff (AFP 26 Jan. 1998).

In the 469-member national legislative assembly elections that took place on 25 April 1998, the UNCP won more than 70 per cent of the seats. Its closest rival, the DPN, won only 17 per cent of the seats (Africa News 30 Apr. 1998).

The UNCP had also won 50 per cent of the votes in the 15 March 1997 municipal elections and a majority of seats in 29 of the 36 states during the parliamentary elections of 6 December 1997 (AFP 16 Apr. 1998; ibid., 26 Jan. 1998).

Although at earlier meetings of the five parties, the UNCP and the GDM had opposed the sole candidacy of General Sani Abacha in the presidential election planned for 1 August 1998 (AC 3 Apr. 1998; ARB Mar. 1998; The Journal 13 Feb. 1998), the five parties later came to a consensus, and nominated General Abacha to be their sole candidate (AFP 14 May 1998; ibid., 16 Apr.1998; IPS 22 April 1998; The Journal 13 Feb. 1998).

Information on the treatment of UNCP members and local councillor members of the UNCP by the authorities could not be found among the sources consuslted by the Research Directorate. For information on the founding of the UNCP, please consult Response to Informaion Request NGA26475.E of 10 March 1997, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Africa Confidential (AC) [London]. 3 April 1998. Vol. 39. No. 7. "Nigeria: Room at the Top."

Africa News. 30 April 1998. "Nigeria: International Community Reacts to Coup Verdict." (NEXIS)

Africa Research Bulletin(ARB): Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. March 1998. Vol. 35. No. 2. "Nigeria: Will He, Won't He?"

Agence France Press (AFP). 14 May 1998. "Decree to Let Abacha Run as Nigerian President, Opposition to Protest." (NEXIS)

_____. 16 April 1998. "L'UNCP désigne le général Abacha comme son candidat à la présidence." (NEXIS)

_____. 26 January 1998. "Three Leaders of Nigerian Party Resign to Fight Elections." (NEXIS)

Inter Press Service (IPS). 22 April 1998. Remi Oyo. "Politics-Nigeria: Transition Program a Sham, Pro-Democracy Says." (NEXIS)

The Journal. 13 February 1998. "Nigerian Parties Back Abacha." (The Ethnic Newswatch/NEXIS).

Nigeria Today. 22 May 1998. "United Nigeria Congress Party" [Internet]. [accessed 22 May 1998].

New African [London]. January - April 1998.

West Africa [London]. January - April 1998.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, World News Connection (WNC).