The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was formed on 15 May 1994 by a broad coalition of
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
n democrats, who called on the military government of
Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...
to step down in favor of the winner of the 12 June 1993 election,
M. K. O. Abiola.
The members mostly came from the southwest of the country.
They quickly became the symbol of mass resistance against military rule.
On 11 June 1994, using the groundwork laid by NADECO, Abiola declared himself president and went into hiding. He reemerged and was promptly arrested on 23 June.
On 17 November 1994, the first anniversary of Abacha's coup, a bomb exploded in
Lagos
Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...
airport. In response, NADECO leaders warned "it will be a disaster, not only for Nigeria but for the whole world, if Nigerians come to the conclusion that only violence will secure the attention of the international community."
Wale Osun, acting secretary-general of the coalition, was arrested on 19 May 1995. After a bomb explosion later that month in Ilorin, capital of
Kwara State, the police arrested and interrogated Chief
Cornelius Adebayo and other NADECO members.
In July 1997, the government accused the National Democratic Coalition of responsibility for a series of bombings of military targets, and said publicly that they suspected American diplomats knew about the bombings in advance. The inspector general of police,
Ibrahim Coomassie
Ibrahim Coomassie (18 March 1942 – 19 July 2018) was a Nigerian police officer and the 9th Inspector General of Police (Nigeria), Inspector General of Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Police serving between 1993 and 1999, under the military gover ...
, said he wanted to question the American ambassador and members of the US Embassy staff.
In August 1999, the coalition filed a claim for $20 million in compensation for abuses suffered under the Abacha regime.
References
{{Political parties in Nigeria
1994 establishments in Nigeria
Defunct political parties in Nigeria
Political parties established in 1994