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.