In one of the first signs of open opposition to the new military ruler, Nigeria's elected senators on Saturday swore not to surrender their seats in the newly outlawed federal legislature.
But the 67 members of the senate did not say how they would resist the new government.Gen. Sani Abacha ousted the short-lived civilian government of Ernest Shonekan on Wednesday, dissolving the federal legislature, the 30 state governments and all local councils.
He banned all political activity and said he and a ruling junta were in charge. Like the string of military dictators before him, he promised to institute a new democratic system but did not say when.
The senate statement was a rare show of unity for a chamber that had been sharply divided during a long political crisis that began with the cancellation of June 12 presidential elections.
It was issued after the legislators were ejected from their government-paid hotel rooms in Abuja, the capital.
"The military must know that they are not armed to treat Nigerians and Nigeria like a conquered people and an occupied territory," the senators said.
"Every military administration justifies its takeover with claims to have the ability to clean up the society but ends up being more corrupt than the preceding one."
Abacha is among the most fabulously wealthy of all Nigeria's rulers, military and civilian, all accused of enriching themselves from the West African nation's oil industry.
Nigeria was plunged into chaos when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who spent eight years promising democracy, nullified the results of the June 12 election that was to return the nation to elected civilian government.
The apparent winner of that vote, in his first remarks since Abacha's takeover, said Saturday he would have to consult with his advisers before deciding what action to take.
"It was a sledgehammer," Moshood K.O. Abiola told reporters outside his Lagos home.
After canceling the results of the presidential election, Babangida resigned under pressure and named the mild-mannered Shonekan to succeed him.
Abacha said he was ousting Shonekan and dismantling democratic institutions to better grapple with Nigeria's worsening economic woes and widespread civil unrest.