According to an Africa News report, the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), one of the five Nigerian registered political parties, dissociated itself from a plan to support military ruler General Sani Abacha as the sole presidential candidate in the August 1998 presidential elections (5 Feb. 1998). GDM leader Gambo Lawan stated that to endorse Abacha as the sole consensus candidate by all five parties was contrary to the GDM's constitution regarding the selection of candidates for elections, and was quoted as saying: "There is an attempt to foist a one-party state on Nigeria" (ibid.).

Africa Research Bulletin reported that during the meeting of the five registered parties in February, the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), with the GDM, also voted against Abacha being considered as the sole consensus candidate for the August elections (20 Mar. 1998).

However, several sources reported that the GDM was the last of the five political parties to adopt Abacha as the sole presidential candidate during its convention in April (AFP 24 Apr. 1998; The Economist 25 Apr. 1998; Radio Nigeria 20 Apr. 1998; Xinhua 20 Apr. 1998). According to the Radio Nigeria report, the GDM voted in favour of Abacha over Alhaji M.D. Yusufu, a presidential hopeful. (20 Apr. 1998). AFP reported that Yusufu joined the United Action for Democracy (UAD), an opposition coalition, and called for a boycott of the 25 April 1998 National Assembly elections (24 Apr. 1998). In the report Yusufu stated that "we should not continue to be used by the military to perpetuate themselves into office" (ibid.).

For information on the respective political platforms of Nigeria's five registered political parties: the Congress for National Consensus (CNC), the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM), the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN) and the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP), please consult the attached Internet documents from Nigeria Today.

Information on whether any of the five parties has aligned itself with Chief Moshood Abiola could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 24 April 1998. James Dorbor. "Would-be Leader Joins Nigerian Opposition in Poll Boycott Call." (NEXIS)

Africa News [Durham, NC]. 5 February 1998. Paul Ejime. "Nigeria; Political Parties Divided Over Abacha Presidency." (NEXIS)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. 20 March 1998. Vol. 35, No. 2. "Nigeria: Will He, Won't He?"

The Economist [London]. 25 April 1998. "Nigeria, Abacha, For Ever, and Ever." (NEXIS)

Radio Nigeria [Lagos, in English]. 20 April 1998. "All Five Political Parties Elect Abacha Presidential Candidate." (BBC Summary 22 Apr. 1998/NEXIS)

Xinhua. 20 April 1998. "Candidate Withdraws from Nigeria's Presidential Race." (NEXIS)

Nigeria Today. 1998. "Click Here to Read Party Programs." [Internet] http://www.timezon.com [Accessed 14 May 1998]