ACN, CPC, ANPP, APGA GIVE BIRTH TO APC

The much talked about merger of the four opposition political parties; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); yesterday gave birth to a new party named All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governors on the platform of the four opposition political parties had on Tuesday met in Lagos and endorsed the merger of the four political parties.

Announcing the merger yesterday, Chief Tom Ikimi who read the position paper of the merger committee 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 (APC) and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for peace and prosperity”.

Ikimi further said, “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 - 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 committee of nations. This is our pledge”.

The position paper was signed by Chairman of ACN merger committee, Chief, Tom Ikimi; Chairman of ANPP merger Committee, Ibrahim Shekarau; Chairman of CPC merger Committee, Garba Mohhamed Sadi; and representative of APGA merger Committee, Sen. Annie Okonkwo.

Asked why the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was absent at the governors meeting in Lagos and why the Labour Party was not included in the merger, Ikimi said Oshiomhole was absent because of flight problem and his colleagues had his confidence at the meeting, while he explained that Labour Party was not included because the merger was for progressive parties.

Those at the merger meeting included: Chief Audu Ogbeh, Sen. Chris Ngige, Sen. Sanni Yerima, Sen. Bukar Ibrahim, Chief Achike Udenwa, Sen. Annie Okonkwo, Hon. Abike Dabiri, Alhaji Lai Mohhamed, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Governor Kayode Fayemi, and Chief George Moghalu.

Asked whether APGA was fully involved in the merger, Ikimi responded in the affirmative, saying that was why Sen. Anne Okonkwo came and signed as representative of APGA.

Asked when the Committee would start the process of the registration and what the symbol of the party would look like, Ikimi said the Committee would communicate the necessary authority as soon as possible and that the symbol of the party would be made known as events unfold.

Source: Compass