Grassroots Democratic Movement

For the Cambodian political party, see Grassroots Democratic Party (Cambodia).

The Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) was a Nigerian political party that was one of the five state-sanctioned political parties allowed by the government of General Sani Abacha to participate in state assembly elections held in December 1997, and in parliamentary elections held in April 1998. The other authorized parties were the United Nigeria Congress Party, Congress for National Consensus (CNC), Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) and the National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN).[1]

The Grassroots Democratic Movement headed by Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu had a left wing orientation.[2] In April 1998, the GDM was the only party considering alternative presidential candidates to Sani Abacha.[3] Dr Tunji Braithwaite, a lawyer who was called to the bar in 1961 and founded the Nigeria Advanced Party in 1983, hoped to be the presidential aspirant for the Grassroots Democratic Movement in 1999.[4] By May 1998, Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, a former Nigerian police chief, was suing the GDM for nominating Abacha as its presidential candidate. He called on Abacha to resign.[5]

When General Abdulsalami Abubakar succeeded Sani Abacha after the latter's death in June 1998,[6][7] he dissolved the five parties and announced that democratic elections would be held during the first quarter of 1999. He proposed the free formation of political parties, an independent judiciary, international electoral monitors.[8]

  1. ^ Louis I. Okoroma (27 September 2009). "Development Of Nigerian Political Parties Since Independence". Leadership. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  2. ^ Kalu Okwara (1 October 2009). "Nigeria At 49 - Any Hope for Party Democracy?". Daily Champion. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  3. ^ "Leading party adopts Abacha as candidate". UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Integrated Regional Information Network for West Africa. 1998-04-17. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  4. ^ TUNJI ADEYEMI (2002-03-05). "The Politics in the Wig". Archived from the original on 2005-01-13. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  5. ^ "IRIN-West Africa 49, 98.5.15: In first public remarks, Babangida speaks out". UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER. 1998-05-15. Retrieved 2009-11-24.
  6. ^ "Washingtonpost.com: Nigeria Report". www.washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  7. ^ McFadden, Robert D. (1998-06-09). "New Chapter in Nigeria: The Overview; Nigeria Dictator Dies After 5 Years of Ruthless Rule". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  8. ^ Remi Oyo and Toye Olori (22 July 1998). "New Political Parties Formed In Nigeria". IPS. Retrieved 2009-11-23.