Political Parties in the Second Republic of Nigeria

 
The presidential system of government practiced in the Second Republic of Nigeria (1979-1983) favored the existence of a multi-party system. The then Electoral commission of Nigeria, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), registered five political parties out of about 52 parties that showed up for the 1979 general elections which was to usher in the second Republic in Nigeria. The five political parties registered for the 1979 general elections were:
* The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) with Alahji Sheu Shagari as the presidential candidate
* The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) having Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the presidential candidate
* The Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as the presidential candidate
* The Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP) with Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri as the presidential candidate
* The People’s Redemption Party (PRP) having Mallam Aminu Kano as the presidential candidate
These are the five political parties that contested in the 1979 general elections in Nigeria.
In 1982, FEDECO registered the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), led by a Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Tunji Braithwaite, making six political parties that contested in the 1983 general elections.
Note: The National Party of Nigeria (NPN) won the 1979 elections and the 1983 elections also, which led to the General Election Crises of 1983 and later to the military intervention of December 31, 1983.