As part of the phased transition to civilian rule in 1992, President Babangida partially lifted the six-year ban on partisan political activity. Thirteen associations were registered with the National Electoral Commissions (NEC) on 19 July 1989. The government was to choose two parties among those registered .

Only four of those parties were considered as possible choices: the People's Solidarity Party (PSP), the People's Front of Nigeria (PFN), the Liberal Convention Party (LCP) and the Nigerian National Congress (NNC) .

The PSP basically represented the members of the old Progressive Parties Alliance of the second republic (1979-1983). The PFN was believed to be the brainchild of Obasanjo's government(1976-1979). Both parties represent the Christians from the south and members of ethnic and religious minorities from the north .

The LCP claimed to be dominated by new politicians, although its membership includes millionaire financiers, some of which had strong links with parties of the second republic. The NNC was believed to be a modern version or the National Party of Nigeria, which controlled the government under the second republic. Both parties represent the Moslem conservatives from the north and the new business class.

On 19 September 1989, the National Electoral Commission recommended six parties: the PSP, the PFN, the LC, the NLP (Nigerian Labour Party) and the RPN (Republican Party of Nigeria) ("Nigerian President"wink. Nevertheless, all 13 parties were rejected by the government on 8 October 1989 ("Third Republic"wink. Instead, two new parties were created: the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the National Republican Convention (NRC).

After 13 prospective parties were banned by the administration of Ibrahim Babangida in 1989, some of the associations decided to re-align. The People's Front of Nigeria, People's Solidarity Party, and the Nigerian Labor Party emerged to form the core constituency of the new SDP. The leadership was mostly dominated by Northern Nigerians. Babagana Kingibe was elected party chairman in 1990 over his rival Mohammed Arzika.

Despite the dominance of Northern Nigerians, the party's strength lay in the Igbo people in the states of Imo and Anambra. The party won 57% of Senate seats and 53% of House of Representatives seats in the 1992 National Assembly election. The party was primarily financed by the Federal Government and individuals such as Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, Francis Nzeribe and M.K.O. Abiola.

In its first presidential primary, Yar'Adua collected about 480,000 votes, dominating his primary opponent, Olu Falae in the first round.Those elections were then canceled by Babangida. In the second primary election under an adopted system called Option A4, another financier, Abiola (a former member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons and once a state chairman of the National Party of Nigeria), won the primary in March 1993. Abiola then contested the national election, which was also annulled by Babangida.

Former members include Atiku Abubakar, Jerry Gana, Abubakar Rimi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Umaru Yar'Adua, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Dapo Sarumi, Sule Lamido, Magaji Abdullahi, Tony Anenih, Lamidi Adedibu, Albert Legogie, Iyorchia Ayu, Fidelis Tapgun, Boss Mustapha, Bola Tinubu and Mohammed Arzika. Later some of the members became senior figures in the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

In 1989 Atiku was elected a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria, the political association led by Yar’Adua, to participate in the transition programme initiated by Head of State Ibrahim Babangida. The Peoples Front of Nigeria included politicians such as Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Babalola Borishade, Bola Tinubu, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sabo Bakin Zuwo.

It's not happening this time. Apc and Pdp achieved nothing all these years of power rotation. It will be foolish of mankind to vote any of these party

Crixxx:
It's not happening this time. Apc and Pdp achieved nothing all these years of power rotation. It will be foolish of mankind to vote any of these party

True! However, people need to revisit History as a subject and also review how Emmanuel Macron came to power in France against all odds. Towing the path of sanity without bias and being well informed of antecedents can be a major contribution to a new order in Nigerian Politics.

ecoco2014:
In 1989 Atiku was elected a National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria, the political association led by Yar’Adua, to participate in the transition programme initiated by Head of State Ibrahim Babangida. The Peoples Front of Nigeria included politicians such as Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Babalola Borishade, Bola Tinubu, Abdullahi Aliyu Sumaila, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Sabo Bakin Zuwo.

All members of this group feel it is their turn to rule.