On , the National Electoral Commission (NEC) released a timetable for local government elections (May) and state assembly elections (June), with presidential elections slated for August 1, 1998. However, Abacha had not publicly ruled out remaining in power. Foreign diplomats noted that his “unopposed” emergence as the consensus candidate of all five parties (a cynical, pre-arranged endorsement) seemed inevitable by April.
Case Studies (3 short profiles)