OPPOSITION
parties coming together to transform into the All Peoples Congress (APC) would
completely lose their identity once the merger is sealed.
parties coming together to transform into the All Peoples Congress (APC) would
completely lose their identity once the merger is sealed.
The
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which was initially opposed to the idea,
disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that it was ready to completely
morph into the new entity from top to bottom.
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which was initially opposed to the idea,
disclosed to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that it was ready to completely
morph into the new entity from top to bottom.
The
party had earlier said it would only be a part of the emerging mega-party only
for the sake of the presidential election but its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed
said yesterday that everything the party had would disappear into the merger,
including its name, logo etc.
party had earlier said it would only be a part of the emerging mega-party only
for the sake of the presidential election but its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed
said yesterday that everything the party had would disappear into the merger,
including its name, logo etc.
Alhaji
Mohammed who is also the National Publicity Secretary of the party, also
expressed optimism that the party was sure that the three separate committees
set up by the APC to write its constitution, manifesto and produce its logo and
motto would deliver their mandate in the next few days.
Mohammed who is also the National Publicity Secretary of the party, also
expressed optimism that the party was sure that the three separate committees
set up by the APC to write its constitution, manifesto and produce its logo and
motto would deliver their mandate in the next few days.
The
committees, which were set up by Chief Tom Ikimi last week in Abuja, were given
two weeks to report back to the party with Mohammed saying, “We expect them to
turn in their reports in two weeks as mandated, we have no doubt about that.”
committees, which were set up by Chief Tom Ikimi last week in Abuja, were given
two weeks to report back to the party with Mohammed saying, “We expect them to
turn in their reports in two weeks as mandated, we have no doubt about that.”
The
party’s spokesperson said it was certain that the ACN, together with other
parties in the merger — the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for
Progressives Congress (CPC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) — would
all lose their separate identity once the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) approved and registered APC.
party’s spokesperson said it was certain that the ACN, together with other
parties in the merger — the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for
Progressives Congress (CPC) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) — would
all lose their separate identity once the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) approved and registered APC.
He
confirmed that the separate parties would soon hold their national conventions
to seek endorsement of the merger into APC from their membership and,
thereafter, forward letters to that effect to the INEC.
confirmed that the separate parties would soon hold their national conventions
to seek endorsement of the merger into APC from their membership and,
thereafter, forward letters to that effect to the INEC.
According
to him, the letters, which he said would be signed by the parties’ national
officers, including chairmen, secretaries and treasurers, as demanded by the
Electoral Law, would be forwarded to the commission, accompanied by the
parties’ constitutions, manifestos, logos, among others, asking for merger into
APC.
to him, the letters, which he said would be signed by the parties’ national
officers, including chairmen, secretaries and treasurers, as demanded by the
Electoral Law, would be forwarded to the commission, accompanied by the
parties’ constitutions, manifestos, logos, among others, asking for merger into
APC.
He,
however, said until INEC approved and registered the APC, each of the parties
in the merger, including the ACN, would still be operating under its existing
name.
however, said until INEC approved and registered the APC, each of the parties
in the merger, including the ACN, would still be operating under its existing
name.
Mohammed,
while commenting further, noted that the ACN and any other party did not have
any problem with APGA, saying “we have no problem with APGA so far.”
while commenting further, noted that the ACN and any other party did not have
any problem with APGA, saying “we have no problem with APGA so far.”
According
to him, the principle behind the merger indicated that parties, individuals or
groups could come together for the purpose, expressing the belief that APGA
would be able to resolve its problem soon.
to him, the principle behind the merger indicated that parties, individuals or
groups could come together for the purpose, expressing the belief that APGA
would be able to resolve its problem soon.
Meanwhile,
lawyers have disclosed that the merging parties must have their existing
registration certificates nullified by INEC before a fresh one could be issued
in APC’s name.
lawyers have disclosed that the merging parties must have their existing
registration certificates nullified by INEC before a fresh one could be issued
in APC’s name.
The
lawyers, who spoke to Nigerian Tribune, agreed that the issue of merger of
political parties in Nigeria was covered by the constitution and the Electoral
Act, though with some conditions and stipulations.
lawyers, who spoke to Nigerian Tribune, agreed that the issue of merger of
political parties in Nigeria was covered by the constitution and the Electoral
Act, though with some conditions and stipulations.
Speaking
on the matter, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr
Monday Onyekachi Ubani, said the parties could merge but how the leaders would
manage the team was the problem.
on the matter, chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr
Monday Onyekachi Ubani, said the parties could merge but how the leaders would
manage the team was the problem.
“One of
the provisions is that INEC must be informed 90 days before election for merger
to take place. Therefore, merger is provided for under the law of the land. The
old political parties will have their old certificates cancelled and a new one
will be issued as one for the new merged political party. The only challenge to
this new development in our political life is the characters of the leaders of
the merging parties. Is their ambition for national interest or for selfish
interest? Time will tell!” Ubani said
the provisions is that INEC must be informed 90 days before election for merger
to take place. Therefore, merger is provided for under the law of the land. The
old political parties will have their old certificates cancelled and a new one
will be issued as one for the new merged political party. The only challenge to
this new development in our political life is the characters of the leaders of
the merging parties. Is their ambition for national interest or for selfish
interest? Time will tell!” Ubani said
A
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Segun Ajibola, also aligned with Ubani’s stance on
the constitutionality of the merger.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Segun Ajibola, also aligned with Ubani’s stance on
the constitutionality of the merger.
“Section
40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees to every person the right to peaceful
assembly and association, to form or belong to any political party, trade union
or any other association for the protection of his interest.
40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees to every person the right to peaceful
assembly and association, to form or belong to any political party, trade union
or any other association for the protection of his interest.
“This
is provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers
conferred by the constitution on INEC with respect to political parties to
which that commission does not accord recognition.
is provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers
conferred by the constitution on INEC with respect to political parties to
which that commission does not accord recognition.
“This
is were Section 84 subsections 1 to 6 of the Electoral Act comes in to
play as far as merger of parties are concerned. The conditions and requirements
laid down for compliance in this law for the attainment of the merger
objective.
is were Section 84 subsections 1 to 6 of the Electoral Act comes in to
play as far as merger of parties are concerned. The conditions and requirements
laid down for compliance in this law for the attainment of the merger
objective.
“The
merger, therefore, has sufficient constitutional and statutory backing in all
its ramifications, subject to the laid down guidelines for doing so in the
electoral law,” Ajibola said.
merger, therefore, has sufficient constitutional and statutory backing in all
its ramifications, subject to the laid down guidelines for doing so in the
electoral law,” Ajibola said.
Also
speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the issue, a constitution lawyer
and former Ondo State gubernatorial aspirant, Tunji Abayomi, said the
merger was constitutional
speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the issue, a constitution lawyer
and former Ondo State gubernatorial aspirant, Tunji Abayomi, said the
merger was constitutional
“It is
constitutional. The law provides for it. As long as they meet the condition
stipulated by the constitution, each party must approve it
Abayomi stated further that the merger was not only legal but will “definitely
work, adding that “we should be positive about it. Any ruling party anywhere in
the world should have a strong challenger in order to protect the interest of
the people.”
constitutional. The law provides for it. As long as they meet the condition
stipulated by the constitution, each party must approve it
Abayomi stated further that the merger was not only legal but will “definitely
work, adding that “we should be positive about it. Any ruling party anywhere in
the world should have a strong challenger in order to protect the interest of
the people.”
Also,
Chief Bolaji Ayorinde said “they are free to form a new political party and
their former identity should be subsumed, because the new political party, once
it is registered by the INEC, will become a legal entity.
Chief Bolaji Ayorinde said “they are free to form a new political party and
their former identity should be subsumed, because the new political party, once
it is registered by the INEC, will become a legal entity.
“The
legal implication is that all the former political parties that merged together
cannot retain their former identity. The new party will take over their assets
and liabilities, there will be a new party that is duly registered by INEC.”
legal implication is that all the former political parties that merged together
cannot retain their former identity. The new party will take over their assets
and liabilities, there will be a new party that is duly registered by INEC.”
Meanwhile,
AS the opposition parties perfect plans to fuse into an umbrella political
platform, All Progressive Congress (APC), there have been underground moves by
members to pressurise two of the top leaders, General Muhammadu Buhari and
Senator Bola Tinubu, not to take the front row in the struggle for leadership
of the proposed party.
AS the opposition parties perfect plans to fuse into an umbrella political
platform, All Progressive Congress (APC), there have been underground moves by
members to pressurise two of the top leaders, General Muhammadu Buhari and
Senator Bola Tinubu, not to take the front row in the struggle for leadership
of the proposed party.
The
ambivalence by the two leaders in the struggle for tickets of the evolving
opposition party, according to findings, was the expectation of most members,
who felt that the new party needed to take off on a strong footing.
ambivalence by the two leaders in the struggle for tickets of the evolving
opposition party, according to findings, was the expectation of most members,
who felt that the new party needed to take off on a strong footing.
Top
members of the newly announced party were said to be shopping for new
generation of leaders to hold the banner, after successfully obtaining the endorsement
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), an indication that
Buhari and Tinubu would be at the background, directing the affairs of the
party.
members of the newly announced party were said to be shopping for new
generation of leaders to hold the banner, after successfully obtaining the endorsement
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), an indication that
Buhari and Tinubu would be at the background, directing the affairs of the
party.
Members
of the party, in separate chats with the Nigerian Tribune, disclosed thar at it
was, the main pre-occupation of every member was to ensure the registration of
the party before June, with the manifesto, logo and the ideology properly
crafted.
of the party, in separate chats with the Nigerian Tribune, disclosed thar at it
was, the main pre-occupation of every member was to ensure the registration of
the party before June, with the manifesto, logo and the ideology properly
crafted.
One
of the members, Honourable Dino Melaye, said the APC members were not at the
moment bugged with the issue of who would bear its ticket in the coming
presidential election as, according to him, doing so would cause crises which
the party did not require.
of the members, Honourable Dino Melaye, said the APC members were not at the
moment bugged with the issue of who would bear its ticket in the coming
presidential election as, according to him, doing so would cause crises which
the party did not require.
Melaye,
a former member of the House of Representatives, said APC, at the moment, was
busy consolidating with intent to shock Nigerians about its strength and
seriousness to take power in 2015.
a former member of the House of Representatives, said APC, at the moment, was
busy consolidating with intent to shock Nigerians about its strength and
seriousness to take power in 2015.
He
affirmed that neither Buhari nor Tinubu was the issue being discussed by
members at the moment, as, according to him, the decision of who to lead the new
party would not be subjected to the whims and caprices of the two leaders.
affirmed that neither Buhari nor Tinubu was the issue being discussed by
members at the moment, as, according to him, the decision of who to lead the new
party would not be subjected to the whims and caprices of the two leaders.
Source: Tribune
