Greater Nigerian People's Party
Encyclopedia
The Great Nigeria People's Party was one of the six major political parties
that fielded candidates for elections in the Nigerian Second Republic
. The party was formed by a splinter group from the Nigerian People's Party
, the group was led by Waziri Ibrahim
, a politician and businessman from Borno
. Waziri was one of the leaders of the three associations that formed the nucleus of NPP. The original intention of NPP was to transcend the politics of ethnicity and to promote the cause of both the prominent ethnic groups and ethnic minorities. However, the entry of Nnamdi Azikiwe
to NPP led to a power struggle in which Waziri lost. Waziri then led a group of minorities in the north and some southerners to form the Great Nigeria Peoples Party.
Though the original intentions of leaders of the party was to surpass ethnic and sectarian politics, the party's strength nevertheless lay in the northeast, among the Kanuris and some northern minorities.
, the party won a total of 8 senate
seats, mostly from the Northeast and about 8.4% of total votes in the senate election. In the House of representative election, the party won about 43 seats and close to 10% of the overall votes in the election. In the presidential election, Ibrahim Waziri, the party's candidate, took home about 10% of the total votes in the election.
, the alliance was viable in some of the states and house elections where either party was less visible. Though, the party was less critical of the Shagari presidency than the UPN, the party, nevertheless, supported an oppositional role and tried to form alliances with other southern parties and some groups in the PRP to form a progressive movement. However, the party was embroiled in an internal crisis in 1981, when some notable members of the party were publicly supporting the dominant National Party of Nigeria
. The party leadership expelled most of the members but the rift and subsequent actions only widened the strains of the party.
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
that fielded candidates for elections in the Nigerian Second Republic
Nigerian Second Republic
The Second Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 governed by the second republican constitution.- Founding :...
. The party was formed by a splinter group from the Nigerian People's Party
Nigerian People's Party
The Nigerian Peoples Party was one of the major political parties that contested elections in the Nigerian Second Republic. The party was made up of three major groups: the Lagos Progressives, Club 19, and the Nigerian Council of Understanding....
, the group was led by Waziri Ibrahim
Waziri Ibrahim
Alhadji Waziri Ibrahim was a wealthy Kanuri businessman from Borno State, Nigeria who became a prominent politician and party leader during the Nigerian Second Republic. He was one of the original founders and financiers of the Nigerian People's Party but later left the party to form the Greater...
, a politician and businessman from Borno
Borno
-Places:Italy* Borno, Lombardy, a comune in the Province of BresciaNigeria* Borno State* Kanem-Bornu Empire Other:Borno may also refer to a commonly used spam on Xbox live deriving from a game of scrabble...
. Waziri was one of the leaders of the three associations that formed the nucleus of NPP. The original intention of NPP was to transcend the politics of ethnicity and to promote the cause of both the prominent ethnic groups and ethnic minorities. However, the entry of Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe , usually referred to as Nnamdi Azikiwe and popularly known as "Zik", was one of the leading figures of modern Nigerian nationalism who became the first President of Nigeria after Nigeria secured its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960; holding the...
to NPP led to a power struggle in which Waziri lost. Waziri then led a group of minorities in the north and some southerners to form the Great Nigeria Peoples Party.
Though the original intentions of leaders of the party was to surpass ethnic and sectarian politics, the party's strength nevertheless lay in the northeast, among the Kanuris and some northern minorities.
Elections
In the 1979 electionsElections in Nigeria
Elections in Nigeria are democratic forms of choosing representatives to the Nigerian federal government and the various states in Nigeria.-Background:...
, the party won a total of 8 senate
Senate of Nigeria
The Senate is the upper house of the National Assembly of Nigeria. It consists of 109 senators: the 36 states are divided in 3 senatorial districts each electing one senator; the Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator....
seats, mostly from the Northeast and about 8.4% of total votes in the senate election. In the House of representative election, the party won about 43 seats and close to 10% of the overall votes in the election. In the presidential election, Ibrahim Waziri, the party's candidate, took home about 10% of the total votes in the election.
The party in the Second Republic
During the run-up to the election, the party went into an informal alliance with the Unity Party of NigeriaUnity Party of Nigeria
The Unity Party of Nigeria was a Nigerian political party that was dominant in western Nigeria during the second republic. The party revolved around the political leadership of Obafemi Awolowo, a sometimes polemical but effective administrator. However, the party's main difference with its...
, the alliance was viable in some of the states and house elections where either party was less visible. Though, the party was less critical of the Shagari presidency than the UPN, the party, nevertheless, supported an oppositional role and tried to form alliances with other southern parties and some groups in the PRP to form a progressive movement. However, the party was embroiled in an internal crisis in 1981, when some notable members of the party were publicly supporting the dominant National Party of Nigeria
National Party of Nigeria
The National Party of Nigeria was the dominant political party in Nigeria during the Second Republic .-Formation:The party's beginning could be traced to private and sometimes secret meetings among key Northern Nigerian leaders after the proscription of political parties in 1966 by the military...
. The party leadership expelled most of the members but the rift and subsequent actions only widened the strains of the party.