The mega-opposition party in formation, the All Progressives’ Congress has finally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration.
This was made known on Tuesday by the leadership of the three parties merging into the APC – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP).
However, they did not name interim officers as widely expected.
Spokesperson for the merger committee of the three political parties, Chief Tom Ikimi, who addressed journalists at the end of the meeting in Abuja, said that the national chairmen, secretaries and treasurers of the three parties had submitted their letters of intent to merge to INEC on Friday.
He, however, refused to disclose the names of the interim leaders of the yet-to-be registered APC, saying they would not be stampeded to do so.
Rather, he said they were satisfied with the submission of letters of intent to merge and that the request was already pending before the electoral body.
Ikimi was flanked at the briefing by the both the former Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, who represented the ANPP and a former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Mohammed Gadi, who also stood in for the CPC.
He said, “The final document for registration in accordance with INEC regulations has to be signed by the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Treasurer of each of the merging parties.”
Ikimi debunked the insinuations in some quarters that the merging committee was unable to agree on who should lead the APC in the interim.
He said the names of prospective interim leaders were being discussed and that representatives of each merging party and some sections of All Progressive Grand Alliance and the DPP had been mandated to report back to the leaders of their group on the matter.
An APGA faction led by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has been romancing with the merging parties but it could not formally key in to the process because the different faction in the party have not been able to agree to hold their convention.
Ikimi said, “That is being discussed and it is being worked out and we need to consult further with our various parties in order to agree with those names.
“There are no disagreements and we as merging parties are working and we had a fruitful meeting this afternoon and we have made fundamental decisions.
“One of the decisions is that we should now consult further with our various parties (on the names of those to lead the newly formed party).”
He said he was happy that the Merging Committee had been able to conclude work on the choice of name, logo, slogan, symbol, constitution and a manifesto of the new party, saying this had made it possible for the merging parties to hold their conventions.
Ikimi said he was happy that Nigerians were waiting for the final registration of the party so that they could avail themselves the opportunity of joining the APC.
He assured Nigerians that the new party would be broad-based, open and truly belong to all its members equally.
He said, “To this end, we have all subscribed to our new constitution (in the APC) and it defines, quite clearly, the leadership structure of the party.
“This principle underscored equality and fair play among party members without prejudice.
“We will therefore strive to guarantee transparency and internal party democracy, particularly at this stage of registration.
“We expect all of us involved in the process to also subscribe to and respect the fundamental principles.
“Everyone committed to providing our country this platform of change must be prepared to make the necessary sacrifice.”
Spokespersons for the ACN and CPC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Mr. Rotimi Fashakin respectively, assured Nigerians that there was no crisis within the ranks of the members of the merging political parties.
Mohamed said the leaders of the new party were confident that INEC would soon issue them the letters of registration and that the non-submission of the interim leaders of the party to the electoral body would not have any negative effect on its registration.
Asked if the leaders of the merging political parties had agreed on the sharing formula of those that would make the list of the interim committee, Mohammed said, “You will know in due course.
“Let me tell you one thing, nobody would stampede us and no amount of pressure would make us do what we know is not proper.”
He said the merger would be the first time such would happen in the country, adding that its promoters would not be distracted with criticisms because “we know we are on the right course.”
At the meeting were Okorocha; former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; and a former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh.