Nigerian Ruler Disbands Elected Bodies

LAGOS, Nigeria — Gen. Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s new military ruler, dissolved the country’s two political parties and all democratically elected bodies Thursday in the most sweeping changes in Nigeria in a decade.

In a 10-minute broadcast, his first since assuming office Wednesday, the military strongman said national and state assemblies, state governments, local councils and the National Electoral Commission were dissolved, and political meetings and associations were banned.

Abacha announced the formation of a Provisional Ruling Council, with himself as chairman and including military chiefs and some ministers, to govern Africa’s most populous nation.

He said brigade commanders would take over the running of Nigeria’s states until civilian administrators are appointed.

The announcement on Radio Nigeria pushes this nation of 90 million to authoritarian military rule. Abacha’s speech was a crushing blow to people who had hoped he would institute moves toward democracy.

Nigeria has been in turmoil since the previous ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, ignored the results of a June 12 presidential election he had promised would return the country to elected government.