 They were originally to be held on 23 February, though he dissolved the National Assembly and rescheduled them for 12 April.Upon insistence of the French, M'ba allowed opposition candidates to run, which it claimed was the main reason for starting the coup in the first place.However, their leaders were barred from participating because of their involvement in the coup, and known anti-Mba organizers were deported to remote parts of the country.