By Osaretin Osadebamwen
Fresh insights into one of Nigeria’s most significant political moments have emerged as a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Ulasi, recounted how the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme lost the party’s presidential ticket at the historic 1998 PDP National Convention in Jos, Plateau State. According to Ulasi, the outcome was heavily influenced by the intervention of former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB).
Ulasi alleged that before the convention, the late former President Shehu Shagari had successfully mobilized Northern delegates to support Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who was widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the PDP and a leading contender for the party’s presidential nomination ahead of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule.
He explained that Shagari had worked tirelessly to build consensus among influential Northern political leaders, believing that Ekwueme possessed the leadership qualities, national outlook, and democratic credentials required to lead Nigeria after years of military dictatorship. The growing support reportedly placed Ekwueme in a strong position before the commencement of voting.
The PDP chieftain shared this, while fielding questions from Arise anchors when he appeared on the television breakfast show
However, Ulasi claimed that the political landscape changed dramatically when General Ibrahim Babangida stepped into the process. According to him, Babangida convened a meeting with key Northern political leaders and delegates, urging them to reconsider their support for Ekwueme and instead back another candidate.
Ulasi alleged that Babangida argued that allowing Ekwueme to emerge as president would symbolically undermine the justification for the military coup that overthrew the civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983. He reportedly maintained that such an outcome would cast doubt on the rationale behind the military’s intervention in Nigerian politics.
Recalling the events, Ulasi said, “In 1998, we went to Jos for the first PDP convention that eventually produced Olusegun Obasanjo as the party’s presidential candidate. Shehu Shagari had organized virtually all the Northern delegates to support Alex Ekwueme. I am happy that Ibrahim Babangida is still alive because these events can be verified.”
He continued by stating that Babangida personally appealed to Northern leaders, insisting that an Ekwueme presidency would, in his view, invalidate the military’s decision to remove the Shagari administration in 1983. According to Ulasi, the intervention significantly altered the voting pattern among delegates.
Ulasi further disclosed that after Babangida’s intervention, Shagari informed Ekwueme’s supporters that despite his efforts, the prevailing influence of the military establishment remained a powerful factor in Nigeria’s political transition. He suggested that the military still wielded enormous influence over political decisions, even as the country prepared to return to civilian governance.
According to Ulasi, the dramatic shift in delegate support ultimately paved the way for former military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, to secure the PDP presidential ticket. Obasanjo would later win the 1999 presidential election, becoming Nigeria’s first democratically elected president of the Fourth Republic.
Reflecting on the outcome, Ulasi said many members of Ekwueme’s campaign were heartbroken by the result. He recalled that emotions ran high at the convention, with several supporters openly weeping after the announcement of the final results. Despite the disappointment, Shagari reportedly told them that he had done everything within his power to secure victory for Ekwueme.
Ulasi concluded by reiterating that the events surrounding the 1998 PDP convention illustrated the enduring influence of the military on Nigeria’s democratic transition. He argued that although the country was preparing to embrace civilian rule, key political decisions were still being shaped by powerful military figures operating behind the scenes.
The account has once again revived public interest in the political intrigues that defined Nigeria’s transition to democracy and the circumstances that led to Olusegun Obasanjo’s emergence over Alex Ekwueme.
While Ulasi’s claims reflect his personal recollection of the events, they contribute to the continuing debate about the role of military influence in shaping Nigeria’s political history.
