In Alma 2:1 we first encounter the man named "Amlici." This man was "very cunning" and "wise as to the wisdom of the world," and was said to be "after the order of the man that slew Gideon," which man was named Nehor (Alma 1:7-15). Thus Amlici was after the order of Nehor.
According to Michael Hobby, the vote of the people would barely keep Amlici out of power (Alma 2:7-8). The ensuing conflict over that decision would become a tremendous bloodbath in what would continue to be an on-again, off-again Nephite-Mulekite civil war. The Amlicites eventually combined with a Lamanite force, and the battle became such that the number of the slain "were not numbered because of the greatness of their number" (Alma 3:1) [Michael M. Hobby, The Mulekite Connection, pp. 21-22]
Note* As to the background of this man Amlici and to the reasons behind such a tremendous war, the reader might reflect back in time and ask, Was this Amlicite (Mulekite)--"Lamanite" war similar in ideological differences to the "Lamanite" wars that happened during the reign of king Benjamin (Omni 1:24 and Words of Mormon 1:13-14)? In other words, could the "Lamanites" which king Benjamin fought have been directed by the dissident Mulekites who lived near the local land of Zarahemla? The reader should be aware that the Book of Mormon is a written record of Lehi's covenant family, so all recorded events are reflected only in terms of covenant family members. In other words,
whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him. And . . . whosoever would not believe in the tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believed in the commandments of God and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth--And it is they who have kept the records which are true of their people . . . (Alma 3:10-12).
Thus, a dissident Mulekite-led insurrection would possibly be termed "Lamanite." Perhaps Mulekite influence in Nephite history has to be gleaned from "reading between the lines." [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]