Last of 5 Parties Nominates Abacha

With his candidacy still undeclared, Gen. Sani Abacha apparently ensured a victory at presidential polls set for Aug. 1 by winning the nomination of the fifth of five government-sanctioned political parties. The Grassroots Democratic Movement chose him in a vote in the northeastern town of Maiduguri. But armed riot police were called in to quell shouts of “We don’t want cheating! We don’t want Abacha!” from supporters of his rival angry that the military dictator, who is not a member of their party, could be considered for its candidacy.