The Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) was one of five political associations that was formally approved by the National Election Commission of Nigeria (NECON) in September 1996 (ARB Oct. 1996, 12434; Africa Confidential 18 Oct. 1996, 3-4). This process was criticized by Nigerian opposition groups, which claimed that the five surviving parties were sympathetic to the military government (ibid.). The Political Handbook of the World 1997 lists Dosu Bankole, Gambo Lawan and Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi as the party's leaders, without giving individual titles (1997, 625). The following year, only Gambo Lawan and Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi were listed, with no explanation provided for Bankole's absence (1998, 687). According to a 31 March 1997 report by NTA Television, Lawan held the post of National Chairman. According to an IPS report of 12 June 1998, Ozomgbachi was the party's Secretary General.

In December 1997, a vote of no confidence in the Lawan-led National Executive Committee resulted in the formation of a caretaker committee (Radio Nigeria 29 Dec. 1997). However, Lawan successfully rejected the results of this vote (Today 4-10 Jan. 1998).

In February 1998 it was reported that the GDM, along with the United Nigeria Congress Party, had voted to reject the acceptance of General Sani Abacha as the consensus candidate of all five parties, in accordance with the declared policy of "embattled chairman" Gambo Lawan (ARB Feb. 1998, 13002). Mohamed Dikko Yusufu, a former inspector-general of police under General Obasanjo, had reportedly declared his intention to contest the presidency on the GDM ticket as early as February 1998 (ibid., 13003). However, it was reported that the GDM eventually joined the other parties in selecting Abacha as the sole presidential candidate at a 18 April convention (AFP 30 Apr. 1998). Yusufu, stating that the party's decision to adopt Abacha was "null and void", declared his intention to continue his campaign as the GDM candidate (ibid). On 28 May 1998, according to the Lagos Guardian, Yusufu's campaign offices were stormed, his supporters threatened and his campaign posters torn down (29 May 1998, 1,5).

Following the death of General Sani Abacha, the NECON and the five parties it had approved, including the GDM, were formally dissolved (PANA 22 July 1998). Sole administrators were appointed for each of the parties with Mr. J.A. Akimbola appointed to manage the affairs of the GDM (Radio Nigeria 21 July 1998). In October 1998 it was reported that Mohamed Dikko Yusufu was the leader of the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ), one of the parties accredited under the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (Post Express 29 Oct. 1998).

Further information concerning the location of the party headquarters, the party structure and hierarchy and leadership is scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. According to the 4-10 January 1998 edition of Today, the GDM operated under a constitution and its membership included the following offices and persons:

National Working Committee (NWC)

National Executive Committee

National Publicity Secretary - Dr. Festus Okubar

National Legal Adviser

National Organizing Secretary

Chairman of Party, Lagos Chapter - Chief Captain Jonathan Shobayo

East Zonal Committee - Alhaji Abubakar Lamido, Hajia Jamilla Gwandu

Kaduna State Chairman - Alhaji Frank Hamza

The same article stated that the National Executive Committee included 36 State chairmen.

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 Response.

Africa Confidential. 18 October 1996. Vol. 37. No. 21. "Nigeria II: Abacha's Agenda."

Africa Research Bulletin (ARB) [London]. 1-28 February 1998. "Nigeria: Will He, Won't He?"

_____. 1-31 October 1996. "Nigeria: 'Ideological Coup'."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 30 April 1998. James Dorbor. "Nigerian Hopeful Tells AFP Campaign Continues." [FBIS-AFR-98-120 30 Apr. 1998/WNC]

The Guardian [Lagos, in English]. 29 May 1998. Sunny Igboanugo. "Yusufu's Campaign Office Stormed 28 May." [FBIS-AFR-98-168 17 June 1998/WNC]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 12 June 1998. Remi Oyo. "Parties Left Out in the Cold." (NEXIS)

NTA Television Network [Lagos, in English] 31 March 1997. "GDM Leader Appeals for Calm, Says Party Has No Merger Plans." [FBIS-AFR-97-091 1 Apr. 1997/WNC]

Panafrican News Agency (PANA). 22 July 1998. Paul Ejime. "Nigerian Politicians Return to the Staring Block." [Internet] http://search.nando.net [Accessed 2 Mar. 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.

Post Express. 29 October 1998. "MD Yusufu Starts 'Thank You' Tour." [Internet] http://www.postexpresswired.com [Accessed 1 Mar. 1999]

Radio Nigeria [Lagos, in English]. 21 July 1998. "Officials Named to Run Dissolved Parties' Affairs." [FBIS-AFR-98-202 21 July 1998/WNC]

_____ [Kaduna, in English]. 29 December 1997. "Grassroots Party National Executive Dissolved." [FBIS-AFR-97-363 29 Dec. 1997/WNC]

Today. 4-10 January 1998. "Intra-Party Squabbles: GDM Warns Saboteurs." [Internet] http://www.ndirect.co.uk/~ntoday [Accessed 2 Mar. 1999]

Afrique Contemporaine [Paris]. 1996-1998.
Jeune Afrique [Paris].1996-1998.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East. 1993

West Africa [London].1996-1998.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, WNC.