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People's Redemption Party
The People's Redemption Party is a social democratic political party in Nigeria.[1] The Second Republic reincarnation of the Northern Elements Progressive Union and the Fourth Republican reincarnation of a similar namesake, the party was created by the supporters of Mallam Aminu Kano after his withdrawal from the National Party of Nigeria. Established in 1978, it is the longest surviving political party in Nigeria's history.[2] The original party was banned after the 1983 military coup led by General Muhammadu Buhari. In the Fourth Republic, the party with the same name resurfaced under the leadership of Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa but could not gather the same level of support as its Second Republic namesake. HistoryFollowing the formulation of a new constitution and an impending return to civil rule, Nigeria's top political elites organized a series of political conferences with a view to creating a political party that can transcend tribal boundaries, this culminated in the formation of the National Movement.[3] In September 1978, however, a brawl in one of the finalizing meetings of the movement between Malam Aminu Kano (then a significant leftist champion) and some former members of the Northern People's Congress led to a section of mostly Marxist intellectuals breaking off, alleging a sidelining of leftists in Nigeria. These leftists formally declared the founding of the PRP on 27 September 1978.[4] 1980sIn the 1980s, a coalition of politicians styling themselves "Progressives" called for a national front against the ruling NPN and by 1981 a conference of opposition Governors in Nigeria had organized into a 'Progressive Governors Forum'.[3] The active participation of PRP governors and MPs in these conferences that were by 1982 calling for a mega progressive party[4] soon led to a crisis within the party. In mid-1982, suspension of PRP Governors by pro-Kano elements and a subsequent rejection of the suspension by Michael Imoudu (then Vice President of the party) led to official fractioning. PresidentUpon formation of the PRP, an invitation was extended to Aminu Kano and other prominent leftists,[3] and he was soon elected as the party's national president. In 1979, the party was able to capture two out of 19 states and came fourth in the national elections.[3] Aminu Kano died in April 1983, just before that year's presidential election. Khalifa Hassan Yusuf succeeded him as party leader and presidential candidate.[5] Fourth RepublicWith the return to democratic rule in 1999, some former members of the now defunct PRP tried to reinstate it with little success. Though most of its former members still claim some sort of allegiance to the Sawabist block, they mostly have remained subsumed in other political parties. Alhaji Balarabe Musa was its chairman since its reincarnation during the 4th Republic. On 31 August 2018, Balarabe Musa quits active politics due to health issues,[6] and stepped down from his chairmanship position of the party to allow young politicians take over.[7] Falalu Bello was announced new chairman of the party.[8] See alsoReferences
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