The national leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday denied its involvement in the formation of the African Peoples’ Congress, APC, and disowned its facilitator, Ugochinyere Imo Ikenga.
The PDP also disowned any moves to frustrate the registration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, following the emergence of other associations with similar acronyms.
A statement by the PDP National Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, however said the party was not moved by the coming together of four opposition political parties to form the APC, adding that it welcomes a virile opposition.
“Our attention has been drawn to unfounded, spurious and vexatious reports making the rounds in some online media claiming that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is behind the identity tug of war by groups claiming the acronym APC. The reports have suggested that agents of our Party are involved in the formation of the African Peoples’ Congress to frustrate the merger of opposition Parties under the canopy of the All Progressives Congress.
“We have on numerous occasions debunked these provocative insinuations. However, in view of the mischievous dimensions these rumors have assumed, especially within a section of the online media, the PDP wishes to categorically state as follows: To the best of our knowledge, no member of the PDP is involved in the formation of any other political organization, neither are we interested in the activities of any other Party.
”The alleged involvement of one Ugochinyere Imo Ikenga in the formation of the other APC has no bearing whatsoever on us. From our findings, Mr Ikenga’s recent activities, including his unsavoury attacks and illicit campaign for the dissolution of the Bamanga Tukur led National Working Committee makes him an estranged fellow and therefore can never be an agent of the PDP in anyway.
“Contrary to the allegations in the reports, the PDP email address has never been made available to any external body for the purpose of disseminating information. For emphasis, the PDP did not at any time use its email address to circulate the so-called APC’s press statement of 15th March 2013,” the statement said.