 In 1954, the National Independence Party merged with Alvan Ikoku's United National Party to form the United National Independence Party.The party was one of the few prominent and fairly popular groups that emerged to challenge Azikiwe and N.C.N.C in the Eastern region of Nigeria.Before the formation of UNIP, the Eastern Region was free from political competition, unlike its counterparts in the West and North, which had formidable foes to contend with.