[2] However, Babangida repeatedly delayed liberalization measures, and civil society leaders did not have faith that he would genuinely give up power.
One attempt to return the country to democracy through a national conference was repressed by the government in September 1990,[1] leading several civil society leaders to the conclusion that forming an organized pressure group to push for democratization was crucial.
[1] Their primary goal at the founding was to advocate for a return to civilian rule through the holding of a sovereign national conference.
[3] As part of Babangida's controlled return to democracy, two legal political parties were allowed to compete in a presidential election in June 1993.
Under pressure from the Campaign for Democracy and an alliance of other civil society groups, Babangida was forced to resign and ceded power to a transitional government led by Ernest Shonekan.