According to Post Express Wired, Don Etiebet, a former minister of petroleum resources, was the founder and financier of the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN) (25 Aug. 1997). He later "decamped" to the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) (ibid.; 1 Sept.1997). His presidential ambitions were thwarted when he was detained over "alleged electoral malpractices" as leader of the "defunct" NCPN during the Abacha regime. He never participated in the presidential election because "the transition was terminated abruptly" (ibid., 31 Oct. 1998).

A new political party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was formed in Lagos on 7 August 1998 by Alex Ekwueme, a former vice-president of Nigeria (Keesing's Aug. 1998, 42431). Don Etiebet joined the NDP and reportedly hoped to use its platform to "re-launch" his presidential campaign (Post Express Wired, 31 Oct. 1998).

On 3 November 1998 Gen. Olesegun Obasanjo "announced that he would seek nomination as PDP candidate in the February 1999 presidential election" (Keesing's Nov. 1998, 42601). At a campaign rally held by Gen. Obasanjo in Lagos, Don Etiebet among others, addressed the rally and r urged "the people to ensure General Obasanjo's victory" in the presidential election (P.M. News 25 Feb. 1999). General Obasanjo won the presidential election (Keesing's Feb. 1999).

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.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1999. "Nigeria: Legislative and Presidential Elections."

_____. November 1998. "Nigeria: Announcement of Presidential Bid by Obasanjo."

_____. August 1998. "Formation on New Political Parties."

Post Express Wired [Ikeja]. 31 October 1998. Leo Aligwo. "Etiebet May Re-launch." http://www.postexpresswired.com/po/...cda5c852565060044f51c?OpenDocument [Accessed: 28 Jan. 2000]

_____. 25 August 1997. Okey Ifionu. "UNCP Landslides: Returns on High Investment." http://www.postexpresswired.com/po...673285264ff0031a5c4?OpenDocument [Accessed: 25 Aug. 1997]

_____. 1 September 1997. "Etiebet Begins Climb Out." http://postexpresswired.com/po...eachbc852566af00083b91?OpenDocument [Accessed: 31 Oct. 1998]

P.M. News. 25 February 1999. Ayodele Ale. "Ekwueme Shuns Obasanjo."