The All Nigeria Peoples' Party (ANPP) was originally founded as the All People's Party (APP) in September 1998 by 14 Ibo and Hausa-Fulani political associations (Political Handbook of the World 1999, 1999, 728) but announced the change to its name at a press conference in June 2002 when it merged with a faction of the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) (This Day 18 June 2002; Vanguard 30 June 2002). The new name and changes to its logo and party colours was formally ratified at a special national convention of the ANPP on 16 November 2002 (ARB 19 Dec. 2002, 15081; Daily Trust 2 Dec. 2002). The Political Handbook of the World 1999 lists APP's leaders as Mahmud Waziri (Chairman), and Mohammed Koiranga Jada (1999, 728), while the Europa Year Book lists the party's leader as Alhaji Yusuf Garbah Ali (2002, 3035).

Although one source refers to Dr. Olusola Saraki as a major financier and co-founder of the ANPP (This Day 5 May 2003), other references to founding members of the ANPP could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, references were found to other ANPP leaders and their positions: Chief Don Etiebet, National Chairman; Alhaji Sani El-Katuzu, Secretary; General Jeremiah T. Useni, Deputy National Chairman North; Malam Hamidu Ajibade, Deputy Chairman South (Daily Trust 9 Jan. 2003); Chief George Moghalu, National Secretary (This Day 23 May 2002); Mohammed Kumalia, the party's leader in the House of Representatives; and Alhaji Atahiru Bafarawa, the Caretaker Committee Chairman and Governor of Sokoto State (ARB 19 Dec. 2002, 15082).

In the April 2003 elections, ANPP candidates won 133 seats in the legislative elections (INEC 2 May 2003a; ibid. 2 May 2003b) while presidential aspirant Buhari Muhammadu came second to Olusegun Obasanjo of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) with 32.19 per cent of the vote (ibid. 22 Apr. 2003).

For an analysis of political violence in Nigeria prior to the April 2003 elections that includes cases studies involving members of the ANPP, interviews with both the victims and witnesses of violence in five states, and political assassinations, including Marshall Harry, ANPP national vice chairman of the South-South zone, please see the Human Rights Watch report entitled "Testing Democracy: Political Violence in Nigeria" at http://www.hrw.org/reports/2003/nigeria0403/nigeria0403.pdf

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series (ARB) [Oxford]. 19 December 2002. Vol. 39, No. 11. "Nigeria: APP Convention."

Daily Trust [Abuja]. 9 January 2003. Reuben Yunana. "Etiebeat Emerges Chairman." http://www.mtrustonline.com/dailytrust/top1812003.htm [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

_____. 2 December 2002. Henry Omunu. "ANPP: Can a Name Change Save the Party?" http://www.mtrustonline.com/anpp2122002.htm [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

The Europa World Year Book 2002. 2002. 43rd ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Limited.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 2 May 2003a. "Nigeria Overall: House of Representatives." http://www.inecnigeria.org/2003election/results/horeps/summary.htm [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

_____. 2 May 2003b. "Nigeria Overall: Senate." http://www.inecnigeria.org/2003election/results/senate/summary.htm [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

_____. 22 April 2003. "Nigeria Overall: Presidential Election." http://www.inecnigeria.org/2003elections/results/presidential/mainframepage.htm [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

Political Handbook of the World: 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

This Day [Lagos]. 5 May 2003. Ayodeji Fashikun. "ANPP Dishonest, Insincere, Says Saraki." http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2003/05/05/20030505news16.html [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

_____. 18 June 2002. George Oji. "Babangida Is Welcome to ANPP - Party Chief." http://www.thisdayonline.com/archive/2002/06/18/20020618pol04.html [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

_____. 23 May 2002. Chuks Okocha and Bature Umar. "APP Changes Name to ANPP, Raises N142m for Convention." http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200205230070.html [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

Vanguard [Lagos]. 30 June 2002. "Fresh Move to Truncate Buhari's Presidential Bid." http://www.vanguardngr.com/news/articles/2002/June/30062002/f2300602.htm [Accessed 8 Sept. 2003]

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