It received 3% of the vote in the 1993 parliamentary elections, winning two seats. Although Salifou had been provisional head of state during the transition to democratic rule in 1991, and was consequently barred from standing in the 1993 presidential elections;[1] instead Illa Kané was nominated as the party's candidate, and finished fifth in the eight-candidate field with 3% of the vote.[2] Following the elections the UPDP went into opposition until 1995.[1]