Democratic Alternative is a Nigerian opposition political party. On June 3 and 4, 1994, about 200 Nigerians critical of the military politicians and collaborators met in Benin City to examine the political impasse and decide on a political plan for the country and the peoples. The conference concluded with the adoption of the Constitution and Manifesto, The Liberation Charter to inaugurate the Democratic Alternative (DA). The organisation thereby emerged as a political party at the time Sani Abacha was implementing a policy that made it illegal for Nigerians to associate in political parties. The participants in the conference defied the dictatorship and launched what has become the oldest existing political party in Nigeria.