Four major political parties announced their merger into one party — the All Progressives Congress (APC) — yesterday in Abuja.
The parties are Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
The merger was announced by a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi.
Ikimi, Chairman of the ACN’s Merger Committee, read a one-page statement, stating the new party’s mission to restore hope to Nigeria .
The statement was signed by the chairmen of the merger committees of the four political parties.
The signatories are Ikimi (ACN), ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (Chairman, Merger Committee, ANPP), Senator Annie Okonkwo (representative of APGA) and ex-Deputy Governor Garba Mohammed Gadi (Chairman, Merger Committee of CPC).
Ikimi said: “At no time in our national life has radical change become more urgent. And to meet the challenge of that change, we, the following progressive political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC, have resolved to merge forthwith and become the ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for prosperity.
“We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among our people.
“The resolution of these issues, the restoration of hope, the enthronement of true democratic values for peace, democracy and justice, are those concerns which propel us.
“We believe that by these measures only shall we restore our dignity and position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. This is our pledge.”
During the question and answer session, Ikimi said the merger would take effect immediately and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be informed.
He said more parties might join the merger very soon.
His words: “The decision we have taken today, we are going to immediately communicate to the appropriate authority (INEC) so that the process of registration will commence.
“As you can see, our position is very clear, that this is a meeting of all the progressive parties. And there are other parties that have indicated their willingness to participate, like the Movement for Democracy and Justice (MDJ). They have written to us that they want to join. But I believe that these four parties have made the take-off now. And I believe that many parties, including Labour Party if they so desire, will join us.”
On how they arrived at the name, Ikimi said: “We have agreed on a name through consensus. All the parties that are part of this process have agreed on this name- All Progressives Congress (APC).
“With regard to flag, logo, etc, these are matters of details which will be released to you as we proceed. I want to underscore the fact that we have agreed to merge and we have chosen a name. Full stop.
Regarding the fate of elected members of the four merging parties in the National Assembly, Ikimi said they cannot lose their seats because the law allows a merger.
He added: “The National Assembly members are already meeting. In this room here, we have Senator Bukar Ibrahim from the National Assembly. Senator Ngige is here. Senator Kabiru Gaya is here. Senator Yerima is here. Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa is here. Senator George Akume is here. So, all our senators and members of the House of Reps are with us. Then, if you know the constitution and INEC rules, once there is a merger, they will still retain their position, nothing happens to them. They have not defected from their parties.”
On the absence of Edo State GovernorAdams Oshiomhole, at the session held in Lagos by the four parties on Tuesday, Ikimi said: “First of all, let me clarify that Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is fully in support of the processes that are on going now. He was to travel to Lagos yesterday (Tuesday), the plane’s situation; the plane could not land or take off from Benin-City.
“ In fact, I had to come here on Tuesday by road and it took me seven hours from Benin-City to arrive here for the meeting we held on Tuesday.
“And when it became clear that Governor Adams Oshiomhole could not attend due to flight difficulty, his colleagues said he was in support of all they were doing. Then it could be taken for granted that he was in support. So, there is no problem with that.”
Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima said: “A good number of members of the National Assembly and some governors elected on the platform of the PDP have indicated interest in the merger. We expect them to join us as we march ahead.”
Senator Okonkwo said there was no crack in APGA on the merger.
He said: “The leadership of the party has taken it fully and endorsed the merger and I came here on behalf of the party to represent APGA.”
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa asked Nigerians to have faith in the merger.
She said it would accommodate and protect the rights of Nigerian women.
Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa said: “And as for the gender, there are members of this committee that are female. And I have one of them that I can identify. There are others sitting there. Virtually every committee has a representation of women.
“We will ensure that women have better representation. This party understands the cause of women. This is the party that will change Nigeria to ensure that Nigerian women get the best they deserve.”
Those present at the ceremony were ex-Governor Segun Osoba; Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim; ex-Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima, ex-Governor Achike Udenwa; ex-Governor Niyi Adebayo; Senator George Akume; Senator Chris Ngige; ex-National Chairman of ACN Audu Ogbeh; National Secretary of ACN, Senator Lawal Shuaibu; the National Publicity Secretary of ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; a former Commissioner in Oyo State, Abdur-Raheem A. Shittu; a former National Secretary of ANPP, Chief George Moghalu; the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu;
Others are Senator Hadi Sirika; Mr. B. B. Lawal; Alhaji Sabo Nanono; Group Captain Bernard Banfa; James Ocholi(SAN); Dr. Oseme Ehamire; Dr. Haruna Yerima; Mrs. Lucy Ajayi; Mr. Ife Oyedele; and Mr. Okoi Obla, among others.
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