The terminology used by sources to refer to the Eastern Mandate Union (EMU) is reflective of its ambiguity: EMU was "formed by tribal leaders and politicians from southeastern Nigeria under the leadership of Patrick Dele Cole and Chuba Okadigbo" (The Political Handbook of the World 1997, 626; ibid. 1998, 688). In May 1994 EMU was reported to be a recently-formed group that was ordered by the government to "clarify its status" (Reuters 26 May 1994; ibid. 28 May 1994). In response, the group stated it was an "organization fighting for the interests of Nigeria's eastern states," that it "backed a sovereign conference," that it wanted the military to quit by 30 June 1994, and that if the military did not comply, it would "form a broad-based government with other like-minded organisations" (Reuters 26 May 1994; ibid. 28 May 1994). In late 1996 EMU was described as "an organization of leaders in eastern Nigeria" (New York Amsterdam News 21 Dec. 1996); in December 1997 it was a "political association" (IPS 10 Dec. 1997). By early to mid-1998, EMU was being referred to as a pro-democracy group (AI 29 June 1998; IPS 29 Apr. 1998). Several sources confirmed that EMU represents the interests of the eastern area of Nigeria (Reuters 28 May 1994; IPS 24 Sept. 1998; ibid. 10 Dec. 1997).

EMU headquarters are located in Enugu, Enugu State (The News 11 Nov. 1998). In late 1996 Dr. Arthur Nwankwo-also a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) (The News 11 Nov. 1998)-was reported to be the "chairman" of the EMU (New York Amsterdam News 21 Dec. 1996), but in the fall of 1998 he was referred to by media sources as EMU chancellor (The News 11 Nov. 1998; Africa News 30 Oct. 1998) and "leader of the 'Eastern Mandate'" (IPS 24 Sept. 1998). In December 1997 Dr. Udenta O. Udenta was reported to be director of publicity (IPS 10 Dec. 1997), but by August 1998 was reported to be EMU secretary general (Today 9-15 Aug. 1998).

The following chronology provides information on EMU.

At the end of April 1998, EMU publicly criticized the February-April 1998 trial of and recent judgement against six men who were sentenced to death by a military tribunal for allegedly plotting to overthrow General Sani Abacha (IPS 29 Apr. 1998). In a statement that was circulated, EMU alleged that "the trial and judgement were deliberate strategies which would be used to perpetuate Abacha in office after a controversial transition to democracy that should have culminated in a presidential election in August and the inauguration of a civilian government in October [1998]" (IPS 29 Apr. 1998).

On 29 April 1998 pro-democracy and human rights organizations, including EMU, throughout the country met to review and assess the situation facing Nigeria (Africa News Online 1 May 1998). All these groups united to form the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON) (ibid.).

On 3 June 1998 both Dr. Arthur Nwankwo and Dr. Udenta O. Udenta were arrested and detained without charge or trial, but were released unannounced some time before the end of June 1998 (AI 29 June 1998; AI-USA 9 June 1998; Nigeria Media Monitor 17 Aug. 1998). Please note that on 8 June 1998, head of state General Sani Abacha died of a heart attack and was replaced by Major-General Abdulsalam Abubakar (AI-USA 9 June 1998).

According to a mid-August 1998 Today article, EMU and other "newly formed political groups have pledged as one of their objectives to see to the emergence of a southern president" (9-15 Aug. 1998). Dr. Udenta was also reported as stating that "any attempt to bring in a northerner as a civilian president would lead to secession. ... [adding] that the Igbos would not succumb to any marginalisation again..." (ibid.).

On 20 August 1998 Radio Nigeria announced the merger of EMU, the National Council of Nigeria, the Equity Party of Nigeria and the Democratic Advance Movement into a "strong political party." Although the radio announcement did not identify the name of the new party, it did state that the it would "formulate a common constitution and manifesto" (ibid.). More recent information on this unnamed coalition could not be found.

At the end of October 1998 EMU held a conference in Enugu during which it was agreed that for "Nigeria to move forward the country must be restructured into a true federal state, the current ethnic military must be dismantled and regionalized to reflect the ethnic composition of Nigeria, and power must shift to the south" (Africa News 30 Oct. 1998).

In mid-November 1998 James Young, US First Secretary on Political Affairs, paid an official visit to the EMU headquarters, accompanied by Mark De Clark of the US embassy in Nigeria, and met with Dr. Nwankwo (The News 11 Nov. 1998). The purpose of the visit was not publicly disclosed (ibid.).

EMU also has an international branch, EMU-Abroad, which is based in the US and has a 301 area-code (Africa News 30 Oct. 1998). Its chairman is Professor Edward Oparaoji and its director of communications is Sir Luke Onuoha (ibid.).

The names of the EMU secretary of the Onicha Ezihihitte (?) branch from 1994-1998 and information (other than that relating to the release of Nwankwo and Udenta) on the treatment of EMU members by the Abubakar government could not be found among the sources consulted.

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 News. 30 October 1998. "Nigeria: AD Only Hope for Ndigbo and Easterners." (NEXIS)

Africa News Online. 1 May 1998. "Nigerian Pro-Democracy Coalition is Launched." [Internet] http://www.africanews.org [Accessed 3 Feb. 1998]

Amnesty International (AI). 29 June 1998. Nigeria: Further Releases of Prisoners of Conscience-A Step Forward. [Internet] http://www.amnesty. org.uk [Accessed 2 Feb. 1999]

Amnesty International-USA. 9 June 1998. Time to Turn Over a New Page And Break with Nigeria's Brutal Past. [Internet] http://www.igc.apc.org/amnesty [Accessed 4 Feb. 1999]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 24 September 1998. Toye Olori. "Nigeria's Ethnic Divide." Internet] http://www.oneworld.org/ips2 [Accessed 4 Feb. 1999]

_____. 29 April 1998. Remi Oyo. "Nigeria: Chorus of Appeals Follows Condemnations." [Internet] http://www.oneworld.org/ips2 [Accessed 3 Feb. 1999]

_____. 10 December 1997. Toye Olori. "Nigeria-Rights: Death in Jail Spurs Free-Detainees Calls." (NEXIS)

The News. 11 November 1998. Moses Uchendu. "US Envoy Visits EMU." [Internet] http://www.africanews.org [Accessed 3 Feb. 1999]

New York Amsterdam News. 21 December 1996. "Africans in the Diaspora Remember Nnamdi Azikiwe." (NEXIS)

Nigeria Media Monitor. 17 August 1998. No. 03-32. "FG Scraps Decree Two." [Internet] http://www.derechos.net/ijc/monitor [Accessed 4 Feb. 1999]

Political Handbook of the World 1998. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Radio Nigeria [Lagos, in English]. 20 August 1998. "Four Political Groups Merge into 'Strong' Political Party." (BBC Summary 24 Aug. 1998/NEXIS)

Reuters. 28 May 1994. BC Cycle. James Jukwey. "Nigeria Holds Last Round of Conference Vote." (NEXIS)

_____. 26 May 1994. BC Cycle. James Jukwey. "Nigerian Rulers Warn Opponents of Tough Action." (NEXIS)

Today. 9-15 August 1998. Mustapha Isa et al. "North, South Presidency: Power Shift Must Be Democratic." [Internet] http://www.ndirect.co/uk [Accessed 4 Feb. 1999]

Amnesty International (AI). November 1994. Nigeria: Military Clampdown on Opposition. External. (AI Index: AFR 44/13/94). London: Amnesty International. [Internet], http://www.amnesty.org [Accessed 3 Feb. 1999]

Amnesty International Report. Yearly. 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995.

Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly. 1995, 1996, 1997.

Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly. 1994, 1995.

Free Nigeria Movement Website.

Nigerian Democratic Movement Website.

Electronic sources: Internet, IRB Databases, NEXIS.