Advanced Congress of Democrats
Encyclopedia
The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) was an opposition political party
in Nigeria
, created and first registered in March 2006. In September 2006, in merged into the newly (2005) formed Action Congress
. The ACD was primarily composed of former People's Democratic Party
members, and was one of a series of anti-Obasanjo coalitions, beginning with the Movement for the Defence of Democracy in 2005, and followed by the AC in 2006/2007. It maintained a small independent organization after the 2007 elections, while its leaders have merged into the AC.
The party was formed by opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow incumbent President
Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third term in office, and had its base of support in the south west of Nigeria.
The then Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
, a northerner who opposed a third term for Obasanjo, was believed to back the new party from its inception.
The ACD was largely made up of disgruntled PDP members who felt they had lost power and patronage to the President's supporters. Attempts by the President's supporters to amend the constitutional two term limit, allowing President Obasanjo to continue in office for a further four years, led to a rupture of the underlying tension within the party.
Three of the founders of the ACD, Alhaji Lawal Kaita
, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu and Audu Ogbeh, are former PDP politicians, and have complained of harassment and detention by the government since the ACD's founding. In March, ACD chair Alhaji Lawal Kaita, the former PDP governor of Kaduna
state was detained shortly after a party rally was shut down by police in Dutse
, Jigawa State.
The Vice President, who had previously shown no interest in running for president, was in 2006 the main focus of these former PDP politicians. He was widely expected to be a future Presidential candidate of the ACD.
In September 2006, the ACD led the creation of a coalition with the Alliance for Democracy
, the Justice Party, and several other minor political parties, and forming the Action Congress
. Atiku Abubakar
was its presidential candidate in the 2007 General Election
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, created and first registered in March 2006. In September 2006, in merged into the newly (2005) formed Action Congress
Action Congress
The Action Congress of Nigeria , formerly known as Action Congress , is a classical liberal Nigerian political party formed via the merger of the Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several other minor political parties in September 2006. The party...
. The ACD was primarily composed of former People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
members, and was one of a series of anti-Obasanjo coalitions, beginning with the Movement for the Defence of Democracy in 2005, and followed by the AC in 2006/2007. It maintained a small independent organization after the 2007 elections, while its leaders have merged into the AC.
The party was formed by opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow incumbent President
President of Nigeria
The President of Nigeria is the Head of State and head of the national executive. Officially styled President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The current President of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan.-History:On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained...
Olusegun Obasanjo to seek a third term in office, and had its base of support in the south west of Nigeria.
The then Vice-President Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
, a northerner who opposed a third term for Obasanjo, was believed to back the new party from its inception.
The ACD was largely made up of disgruntled PDP members who felt they had lost power and patronage to the President's supporters. Attempts by the President's supporters to amend the constitutional two term limit, allowing President Obasanjo to continue in office for a further four years, led to a rupture of the underlying tension within the party.
Three of the founders of the ACD, Alhaji Lawal Kaita
Lawal Kaita
Lawal Kaita was elected on the National Party of Nigeria platform as governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria, holding office between October and December 1983, when the Nigerian Second Republic ended with the coup that brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power.He continued to be an active and...
, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu and Audu Ogbeh, are former PDP politicians, and have complained of harassment and detention by the government since the ACD's founding. In March, ACD chair Alhaji Lawal Kaita, the former PDP governor of Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
state was detained shortly after a party rally was shut down by police in Dutse
Dutse
Dutse is a city located in north central Nigeria. It is the capital city of Jigawa State.The Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic has its College of Business and Management Studies at Dutse.- Geography :...
, Jigawa State.
The Vice President, who had previously shown no interest in running for president, was in 2006 the main focus of these former PDP politicians. He was widely expected to be a future Presidential candidate of the ACD.
In September 2006, the ACD led the creation of a coalition with the Alliance for Democracy
Alliance for Democracy (Nigeria)
The Alliance for Democracy was a progressive opposition political party in Nigeria. It was formed on September 9th 1998. At the 2003 legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 8.8 % of the popular vote and 34 out of 360 seats in the Nigerian House of Representatives and six out of...
, the Justice Party, and several other minor political parties, and forming the Action Congress
Action Congress
The Action Congress of Nigeria , formerly known as Action Congress , is a classical liberal Nigerian political party formed via the merger of the Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several other minor political parties in September 2006. The party...
. Atiku Abubakar
Atiku Abubakar
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, alias Turakin Adamawa, GCON was the Vice-President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He is a Muslim native of Adamawa State, and was an influential member of the ruling People's Democratic Party until 2006 when he switched affiliation to the Action Congress party...
was its presidential candidate in the 2007 General Election
Nigerian general election, 2007
The Nigerian general elections of 2007 were held on 14 April and 21 April 2007. Governorship and state assembly elections were held on 14 April, while the presidential and national assembly elections were held a week later on 21 April. Umaru Yar'Adua won the highly controversial election for the...
.