The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) defied all odds yesterday as it formally registered the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party.
Former head of state
General Muhammadu Buhari and former governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu hailed the development, saying it signals a new dawn for the country.
The registration
yesterday elicited spontaneous applause from the party’s promoters and even its
rival, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which immediately
congratulated the new-born party.
In a statement by the
INEC secretary, Abdullahi A. Kaugama, announcing the birth of APC, he
declared: “The political parties Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the
All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) met
all statutory requirements for the merger, hence the granting of their request
to be a political party.”
Consequently, the
commission declared its approval of the withdrawal of the individual certificates
of the applicant-parties and the issuance of a single certificate to the All
Progressives Congress.
The statement reads in
part:”The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the
application by three political parties – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)
– to merge into one, to be known as the All Progressives Congress.
“On considering the
application, the Commission found that the applicant-parties have met all
statutory requirements for the merger, and has accordingly granted their
request.
“Consequently, the
Commission has approved the withdrawal of the individual certificates of the
applicant-parties, and the issuance of a single certificate to the All
Progressives Congress.”
By this merger,
therefore, the APC becomes the biggest opposition party going into the 2015
general elections.
Interim national
secretary of APC Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, who applauded INEC for sticking to due
diligence in the registration of the party, said a timeline on how the
constituent parties would submit their party registration certificates would be
communicated to the individual parties soon. Tumsah, who is away in Saudi
Arabia on Hajj, said, “The registration was in order and I must also thank INEC
for taking the time to do due diligence to get our registration done.”
As for when parties
would submit their certificates he said, “I don’t have an idea yet, but I will
write a letter to the parties on the timeline for submission of party
certificates.”
A new dawn in Nigeria
politics - Buhari, ACF
Reactions have
continued to trail the registration. Presidential candidate of the defunct
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Buhari congratulated Nigerians on
the registration of APC.
A source close to him said
on condition of anonymity that “General Buhari congratulates patriotic
Nigerians clamouring for change and INEC alike on the historic registration of
APC.”
According to the
source, “General Buhari congratulated all the leaders of the defunct ACN, CPC
and ANPP including their governors and legislators on their tenacity,
understanding and perseverance during all the merger process.
Buhari |
“It is a new dawn in
the Nigerian political engineering and a new baby is born.”
Also reacting, the
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said the registration of APC as a political
party was a healthy development needed for the growth of democracy.
According to ACF’s
spokesman Anthony Sani, the registration of the new party is a healthy one,
especially when regard is paid to the fact that any democracy without a viable
alternative platform is a sham.
Tinubu excited
National leader of the
now defunct ACN Asiwaju Tinubu expressed satisfaction over the registration of
the new political party.
Tinubu, in a statement
released on his behalf by his media office, said history had been made with the
registration of the APC by INEC: “The confirmation of the registration of the
All Progressives Congress, APC, by INEC signals the commencement of a new phase
in the struggle to bring true democratic change to Nigeria.
Tinubu |
“This is not just a
merger. This is the first ever merger in the history of Nigeria and represents
a paradigm shift in the politics of our country. Together we must own it.
“As Nigerians we see
history unfold before our very eyes and we must rise up to answer the call of
history to liberate our people.”
The former Lagos
governor congratulated the APC governors and the leadership of the new party.
“I congratulate all
our governors, all our members from the North-East, North-West, South-South,
South-East, South-West and the North-Central and all would-be members and
well-wishers of our great party, APC.
“Let me single out for
congratulations the leadership of the merging parties, particularly the
executives and the entire membership of APC, for their perseverance, doggedness
and the sacrifices they made in the interest of our country. They resolutely
stood behind the merger and had trust in the leadership and the process. Their
faith in the message of change that APC represents has been aptly demonstrated.
“It is to them that
the greatest credit goes. Because we fulfilled the laws for registration as
prescribed, we all along were confident that our party would be registered. We
worked hard to ensure that our party was in good stead and in good standing
with the law.
“Selfish interest and
ego were shelved. Personal sacrifices were made particularly by those who
hitherto occupied higher positions in the merging parties in the interest of
moving Nigeria forward.”
Tinubu also
appreciated Nigerians who stood by the merger as well as the chairman of INEC,
Professor Attahiru Jega.
“I congratulate
millions of Nigerians who stood by us during the long process to form the
APC party and actualize its objective.
“This registration is
a culmination of concerted and diverse efforts and commitment by our people to
work for a new Nigeria. With APC, a new Nigeria is necessary and is possible.
“I also want to
congratulate Jega and the leadership of INEC headed by him and the entire
institution for this positive pronouncement.
“Nigerians must give
INEC a pat on the back for complying with the law of the land. What INEC has
done is to follow the constitution and the Electoral Act to the letter. We hope
INEC will continue in this spirit of independence and respect for the rule of
law in all its future operations,” he said.
The defunct ACN leader
however called on INEC to allow for the full adoption of the biometric system.
“Our commitment to
achieving One Man, One Vote remains resolute. We therefore must demand from
INEC the full adoption of the biometric system. Prof. Jega and the institution
he leads will not achieve much and their efforts at free and fair elections
will not be fruitful until they adopt a modern technologically driven biometric
system that will ensure the integrity of our elections and earn the confidence
of Nigeria.
“If this is done, we
can then say our democracy has advanced several miles forward to join other
civilized democracies in Africa.”
APC’ll live up to
expectations – Shekarau
Former Kano State
governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has assured Nigerians that the newly
registered APC will live up to expectations. Shekarau who spoke through his
spokesperson, Yau Sule, from Saudi Arabi congratulated Nigerians especially the
members of the three merging parties, ACN, ANPP and the CPC, on the
registration of the APC.
Shekarau |
In his congratulatory
message, the ex-governor said that “the INEC has proved to Nigerians that it is
an impartial body out to serve the interest of Nigerians and protect the
constitution of Nigeria”.
Shekarau also assured
Nigerians that “the APC will be the desired alternative Nigerians have been
looking for to bring a positive change to the development of the country”.
It’s beginning of new
era – APC govs
Meanwhile, the 11
opposition governors under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF)
has welcomed the registration of their new APC by INEC yesterday, saying the
official pronouncement ratifying the merger of the opposition parties by the
electoral umpire is a welcome development for democracy in Nigeria.
The forum, comprising
governors of the now defunct ACN, ANPP and CPC as well as a faction of APGA,
said it is also a victory for their party faithful across the nation, democrats
and indeed for all Nigerians. The governors added that they salute INEC’s sense
of responsibility and courage for upholding the constitution and the provisions
of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.
In a statement jointly
signed by the state governors Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti),
Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abiola
Ajimobi (Oyo), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Abdulaziz Yari
(Zamfara), Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), they said
their forum joins the members of the APC interim management committee under the
leadership of Chief Bisi Akande and indeed the good people of Nigeria in
celebrating the day of the new party’s registration.
“It is a day that
signals the beginning of a new era in our national life when the collective
aspirations of well-meaning Nigerians found expression in a legal entity that
will be the rallying platform in our quest to rescue Nigeria,
“We therefore urge all
Nigerians to take advantage of this opportunity to be part of this movement for
change which has come to stay by becoming members of our great party, the All
Progressives Congress (APC),” the governors said.
Congratulations
Nigeria – APC
Basking in the
euphoria of its registration, the APC came out with its first ever public
statement as a registered party: it congratulated Nigerians and declared that,
with the birth of the party, Nigerians now have an alternative to a ruling
party that has taken the people for a bad ride in the past 14 years.
In a statement issued
by its interim national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos, APC
said its emergence is a victory for Nigeria and for democracy and that it has
now also propelled the country to the league of top democratic nations with two
major political parties.
It said: ‘’The journey
has been long and tortuous. All sorts of obstacles were thrown onto our path by
anti-democratic forces, but we were painstaking, determined and unrelenting in
our quest for a formidable platform that will allow our country Nigeria to
achieve her full potential and join the league of respectable nations.
‘’With the approval of
our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC, today marks the beginning of a new
dawn for our country and her long-suffering people. We thank Nigerians both
here and in the Diaspora for standing by us. We thank the media for their
fairness, and we commend INEC for doing the right thing and for not succumbing
to pressures from phantom political associations that sought to force it to
circumvent the law.
‘’We promise not to
disappoint Nigerians who have reposed much confidence in us. We say that
contrary to the lies being peddled by the naysayers, we are not seeking
political power for the sake of getting it, but in order to use it to empower
our people and allow their long-nursed hopes and dreams to become a reality.
‘’And to those who
have vowed to change their names if APC survives for a year, we hope they will
live up to their words.’’
APC said Nigerians can
now look forward to a truly democratic party in the best traditions of what the
world considers as the best form of government.
The party promised to
unveil, in the days ahead, its membership registration plans to give all
Nigerians, especially those who have become disenchanted with the way things
are going in the country, the much-awaited opportunity to be part of the
country’s democratic process in the true sense of the word.
‘’We will also be
unveiling our plans to turn today’s hopelessness into a time of great
opportunities, to reverse the downward slide in our socio-economic development,
and to ensure that every Nigerian benefits from the common wealth, instead of
the present situation in which a few fat cats are milking the system dry at the
expense of the citizenry,’’ APC said.
PDP congratulates APC,
says registration poses no threat
The Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) yesterday also congratulated the new party but was quick to declare
that APC poses no threat to it.
The party nonetheless
declared that the registration is a healthy development for the nation’s
democracy.
Acting national
publicity secretary Barr. Tony Caesar Okeke boasted that the ruling party
maintains its pre-eminent position and widest popularity and acceptance among
Nigerians across the country.
The ruling party
further urged the leaders of the mega opposition party to focus on issues and
engage in more robust debates on the economy and that, with the registration of
the APC, Nigerians now expect the leaders of the opposition party to eschew all
forms of bitterness and desperation and desist from politics of propaganda
which characterised their former parties.
The party said, “We
hope to see a vibrant opposition that will constructively engage the
PDP on issues of
governance in a way that Nigerians will be the utmost beneficiaries instead of
overheating the polity by promoting violence and hatred among the people”.
Stressing that the APC
poses no threat to it, PDP said it “will continue to maintain its preeminent
position in the polity”, adding that it remained the party with the widest
acceptance and popularity among Nigerians across the board.
The ruling party
noted that Nigerians are not deceived by the change of flag by the opposition.
It said such does not remove their “dictatorial tendencies and penchant for
deceit and propaganda for which Nigerians have rejected them irrespective of
party name”.
APC registration marks
end to one-party state - CNPP
But the Conference of
Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) said the registration of APC has signified the
death of one-party state in Nigeria and taken the nation’s democracy to the
next level.
According to the
spokesman of the CNPP, Osita Okechukwu, in a statement, “Nigerians now have a
golden opportunity to make choice between two dominant political parties: one
anchored on social democracy, pro-people; and one anchored on conservative and
anti-people programmes as is the case in all liberal democracies.”
It congratulated INEC
on its forthrightness, steadfastness and obedience to the rule of law.
“It is
heart-warming that INEC captured the intendment of the 1999 constitution not to
register phony groups or mischief makers as political parties,” CNPP said.
Ribadu calls for
renewed commitment
A chieftain of the
newly registered APC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has joined other Nigerians in
expressing happiness over the emergence of the mega opposition party, even as
he charged members of the party to strive harder for the ultimate goal of
dislodging the ruling PDP.
Ribadu, in a statement
in Abuja, congratulated key players in the merged parties on “shoving their
personal interests in order to allow for mutation of a pan-Nigerian party that
can provide credible alternative to the ruling party”.
A statement, issued by
Ribadu’s media aide, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, quoted the 2011 presidential
candidate of the ACN expressing hope that the new party would have sweeping
victory come next general election.
“Like millions of
Nigerians from all over the country, I am immensely delighted over the successful
registration of our party by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC),” Ribadu said.
According to him, the
registration of the party by the electoral body is not the end. “It is the
beginning of the end of misrule and cluelessness,” he said, calling for renewed
zeal and commitment by members of the party to achieve the desired objective.
He called on Nigerians
to resist manipulations of the electoral process either through whipping up
religious or sectional sentiments or by the use of money, maintaining that the
2015 elections would be a major litmus test for the opposition and all
progressive Nigerians.
Fashola reacts
Also speaking over the
registration of the APC, Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said,
“This is not just a merger. It is history. The first merger in Nigeria. I am
proud to have been a part of it.”
Fashola |
Osun government happy
Osun State
government has commended INEC for rising above partisanship by registering the
APC.
In a statement issued
by the state commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, it
said the new party becomes a necessity because of the alleged torment the PDP
threw Nigeria into since the inception of the Fourth Republic.
The statement said
that leaders of the merging political parties have demonstrated high sense of
commitment to the Nigeria project by burying their differences to liberate the
masses from the present conundrum the ruling party has subjected the country.
It added that the
eventual registration of the party is a victory for democracy and a victory for
the masses who have long sought an alternative to the PDP.
“This
development has shown that Nigerians demand changes and nothing can stop them
from achieving it. Many detractors have stood on the way of APC trying to stop
its registration, but now their bid has failed. INEC has shown courage and a
new party is born,” it added. “The leaders of the new party have demonstrated
their commitment to the future of this country and have also shown that
individual differences cannot be a cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress. The
onus is now on Nigerians to embrace change for the sake of the future
generations.
“It is our belief that
the electoral body has passed the acid test; as a government, we urge it to
continue to toe the path of courage and integrity by giving Nigerians the right
to freely choose their leaders through a free and fair election during the
forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states in 2014
and the general elections in 2015.”
Belgore excited
The registration of
APC brings a new dawn to Nigeria’s democratic experiment, the Kwara State ACN
gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 elections, Dele Belgore, has said.
In a statement by his
media aide, Rafiu Ajakaiye, he added that the APC registration”is a victory for
the people of Nigeria who have long clamoured for the coming together of
progressive opposition parties to end the years of disrespect for popular wish,
executive lawlessness, corruption and widespread poverty, irrespective of the
fact that the country is richly blessed with fertile land and huge human
potential”.
“For us in Kwara, it
is a dream come true as APC would further strengthen our collective efforts to
end the state’s peculiar politics of underdevelopment, poverty and
self-aggrandisement. It is a moment of joy for all the progressive elements
waiting in the wings to work together as brothers in the selfless bid to build
a new Kwara, one that would shed the toga of being a fiefdom and be seen as a
place where individual potential blossoms without any let or hindrance,”
Belgore noted.
Lagos Assembly hails
INEC
The Lagos State House
of Assembly has applauded INEC for upholding the tenets of the rule of law and
democratic ethos as demonstrated by its registration of the largest and most
formidable opposition party in the country, the APC.
Reacting to the news
of the APC’s registration, the spokesperson of the House and chairman, House
Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Hon. Segun Olulade,
stressed that the registration of the APC has further widened the political
space for the opposition forces in Nigeria, adding that enhancement of a stable
and strong opposition is one of the basic conditions for sustainable democracy
and development in any polity.
Olulade
maintained that the hallmark of an electoral umpire which INEC represents is to
provide a level playing field for all contesting parties without fear or favour
and to ensure that electoral activities are not marred by irregularities,
adding that democracy can never thrive without electoral integrity.
Jubilation galore in
Enugu
There was
celebration galore yesterday in Enugu State over the registration of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) as a party.
Our correspondent who
went round the city saw people discussing the issue in groups.
It was also discovered
that some people smiled to drinking joints to celebrate the birth of APC.
In his reaction, the
senatorial candidate of the ACN in the last general election in Enugu West
senatorial zone, Dr Ben Nwoye, said the registration calls for celebration
because it was the beginning of a new dawn in the nation’s democracy.
He commended the
national chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, for his boldness,
saying with the development the coast is now clear for the opposition party to
wrest power from PDP in Enugu State and at the federal level.
Also reacting to the
development, a former auditor-general of the PDP, Barrister Ray Nnaji, said it
was a good development for democracy. He, however, said though they welcomed
the new party, the PDP was not afraid of it.
Mr Innocent
Ekeh, a prominent member of the opposition, said, “We are happy that, at last,
the APC has been registered. The emergence of the new party would help to nip
the cankerworm called PDP in the bud.
“We are tired of the
PDP and we are hopeful that PDP would soon go into extinction. PDP has
destroyed Nigeria since its emergence. We are tired of the party and that is
why we are celebrating.”
Reactions galore
A PDP chieftain,
Ebenezer Babatope, said that the registration of APC will not pose a threat to
the PDP. He however described the merger as the first successful merger in the
political history of Nigeria.
Babatope disclosed
this in a telephone interview on Wednesday but added that the party is made up
of strange bedfellows.
“So we in the PDP are
ready for them; we will tolerate them but work assiduously to ensure that
people’s support for our party is not affected, so that, at the end of the day,
the so-called APC will vanish into political oblivion,” he said.
The PDP
gubernatorial aspirant in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Akingbade, said the
registration is a welcome development, adding that the party has crossed
another political hurdle.
According to
him, “the registration will strengthen our democracy because without a strong
opposition democracy cannot survive”.
Alhaji Akingbade added
that the registration will also put an end to armchair politics in Nigeria.
For his part, the
chairman, Yaba LCDA, Jide Jimoh, described the registration as long expected.
Jimoh said, “I am not
surprised at the registration of the new party because our leaders are people
with requisite political experience, astuteness and proficiency who are
well-grounded in the fields of politics and law. They have dotted the i’s and
crossed the t’s. In short, they did all that was required long ago.”
According to
him, “even the assessment team of INEC gave the party kudos during their
assessment tour. So, INEC registration was a given”.
On people’s expectations
from APC, Hon. Jide Jimoh said Nigerians had long yearned for change which has
now come with APC, adding the PDP is in for a big problem come 2015.
“They should just pack
their bags and baggage and be ready to leave Aso Rock after the general
elections in 2015,” he said. “Surely, APC is taking over the federal government
in 2015. The people will ensure that.”
A Lagos
lawmaker, Hon. Ajibayo Adeyeye, said that it is a welcome development and a
good thing for Nigeria. “Those of us that formed the merger are progressive
people and, with this development, the 2015 election will yield a good result.”
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