•Faces masquerading as other APCs unveiled
Three
political associations with the same acronym APC have been in exchange of words
in the last one week over which of them will earn the right to be registered as
a political party, but the Presidency and the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) have been accused of masterminding the crisis. The contending
political associations include the All Progressives Congress, All Patriotic
Citizens and African Peoples Congress.
political associations with the same acronym APC have been in exchange of words
in the last one week over which of them will earn the right to be registered as
a political party, but the Presidency and the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) have been accused of masterminding the crisis. The contending
political associations include the All Progressives Congress, All Patriotic
Citizens and African Peoples Congress.
The
three associations had differently, between February 28 and March 5 applied To
INEC for possible registration as political parties, but crisis erupted when it
was observed that all the groups share APC as their acronyms, a development
which INEC said it was not comfortable with.
three associations had differently, between February 28 and March 5 applied To
INEC for possible registration as political parties, but crisis erupted when it
was observed that all the groups share APC as their acronyms, a development
which INEC said it was not comfortable with.
But a
group, the Concerned Nigerians, led by Comrade Salihu Mohammed, former
President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said that a
Special Adviser in the presidency in collaboration with INEC officials forged
documents in favour of two of the associations so as to frustrate the efforts
of the merging opposition parties to form a formidable party in other to
challenge the dominance of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The
group, which said that it was already spearheading further strengthening of the
opposition ranks through canvassing of more participation of smaller parties in
the merger arrangement, however, said that it may not be heading to the courts
as the government will as usual have its ways in the prevalent judicial
configuration.
group, which said that it was already spearheading further strengthening of the
opposition ranks through canvassing of more participation of smaller parties in
the merger arrangement, however, said that it may not be heading to the courts
as the government will as usual have its ways in the prevalent judicial
configuration.
According
to Comrade Mohammed, “Those that fast tracked the registration of two other
association will go to any length to ensure that the opposition merger
arrangement is frustrated and blocked. About three APC’s were formed within one
week and it is curious that the application forms of the two other associations
were filled by legal representation as the against INEC rules. At what point
did INEC changed the procedures?”
to Comrade Mohammed, “Those that fast tracked the registration of two other
association will go to any length to ensure that the opposition merger
arrangement is frustrated and blocked. About three APC’s were formed within one
week and it is curious that the application forms of the two other associations
were filled by legal representation as the against INEC rules. At what point
did INEC changed the procedures?”
Explaining
further, Barrister Abdul Aminu Mahmud, who himself was also a former NANS president,
claimed that most of the forms filled by the two associations were fake and not
the real INEC forms. He said that he also detected errors in signatures and
names of top officers of the African Peoples Congress as well as the date of
submission and signing of the document. According to him, “This document was
produced in one place, INEC office and the office of a Special Adviser to the
president funded the arrangement.”
further, Barrister Abdul Aminu Mahmud, who himself was also a former NANS president,
claimed that most of the forms filled by the two associations were fake and not
the real INEC forms. He said that he also detected errors in signatures and
names of top officers of the African Peoples Congress as well as the date of
submission and signing of the document. According to him, “This document was
produced in one place, INEC office and the office of a Special Adviser to the
president funded the arrangement.”
But
sources available to the Saturday Mirror strongly believe that the office of the
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters may have indirect link to
the formation All Patriotic Citizens and African Peoples Congress.
sources available to the Saturday Mirror strongly believe that the office of the
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters may have indirect link to
the formation All Patriotic Citizens and African Peoples Congress.
Though,
efforts to reach the Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak,
proved abortive, but the presidential aide had a day earlier told Saturday
Mirror that no amount of gang up by the opposition can stop President Goodluck
Jonathan from contesting the 2015 election if he so wished. Gulak, however,
said that the President will make his reelection desire public next year.
efforts to reach the Political Adviser to the President, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak,
proved abortive, but the presidential aide had a day earlier told Saturday
Mirror that no amount of gang up by the opposition can stop President Goodluck
Jonathan from contesting the 2015 election if he so wished. Gulak, however,
said that the President will make his reelection desire public next year.
A
popular political activist who had attempted to stop the PDP chairman, Alhaji
Bamanga Tukur, from contesting the party’s national chairmanship by seeking a
court order to restrain him from contesting prior to the national convention of
the party last year, was also believed to be behind the formation of the two
political associations to frustrate the merger arrangement.
popular political activist who had attempted to stop the PDP chairman, Alhaji
Bamanga Tukur, from contesting the party’s national chairmanship by seeking a
court order to restrain him from contesting prior to the national convention of
the party last year, was also believed to be behind the formation of the two
political associations to frustrate the merger arrangement.
Addressing
a press conference on Thursday, the Chairman of the merger committee of the
APC, Chief Tom Ikimi said that the group would go ahead with the registration
of the party and insisted on retaining the acronym, APC, saying, it satisfied
all legal and constitutional requirements for the merger of their parties to
form the All Progressive Congress.
a press conference on Thursday, the Chairman of the merger committee of the
APC, Chief Tom Ikimi said that the group would go ahead with the registration
of the party and insisted on retaining the acronym, APC, saying, it satisfied
all legal and constitutional requirements for the merger of their parties to
form the All Progressive Congress.
Source: National Mirror
