The party system that was operational in Nigeria under the aborted Third Republic was the

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which party system operated during Nigeria's aborted Third Republic (1989-1993), the transition programme under General Ibrahim Babangida.

Step 2: Recall the concept

• Zero party system: no political parties at all.
• One party system: only one party is legally allowed.
• Multi-party system: many parties compete for power (the First Republic and the Second Republic).
• Two-party system: only two parties are allowed to exist.

Step 3: Apply the history Babangida's government dissolved the existing political associations and created two parties by decree in 1989:

1. Social Democratic Party (SDP), described as "a little to the left."
2. National Republican Convention (NRC), described as "a little to the right."

The June 12, 1993 presidential election was contested by these two parties: M.K.O. Abiola (SDP) against Bashir Tofa (NRC). The election was later annulled, which is why the Third Republic is called "aborted."

Step 4: Check the options

• A: Wrong. Parties existed.
• B: Wrong. More than one party existed.
• C: Wrong. Only two parties were allowed, not many. (This was the system of the First, Second, and Fourth Republics.)
• D: Correct. SDP and NRC formed a two-party system.

Answer: D. Two-party system

Exam tip: Remember "Third Republic = Two parties (SDP & NRC)." Both start with "T" (Third, Two), and the Third Republic was Babangida's programme.