Opposition parties plot PDP’s fall with APC

FOR 13 unbroken years, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has maintained its control of the Federal Government.

Thrice, national elections had been held, thrice, the party had won the presidency and the highest number of states. Another general election is due in two years. The PDP is not in a hurry to let go but opposition parties are not sleeping.

In fact, the plan of the ruling party, which prides itself as the largest party in Africa, is to maintain that hold for a 60-year run. Even if the country and Nigerians as a people have nothing to show in terms of dividends of democracy.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the immediate past Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), has not hidden his preference for a one-party state. He pushed for the adoption of a one-party system in one of the books he wrote while he was in the saddle.

The rating of the ruling party is has been on the free fall. This was expressed through the ballot in the 2011 general polls when the PDP lost 11 of the 32 states under its control.

Using the federal might and latching on to the exodus of fair-weather politicians into its fold, the PDP had dealt the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) a blow in their strongholds during the 2003 general elections.

The number of the states under its control shot from 26 in 1999 to 31 in 2003.

But the outcome of the 2011 general elections reflected the resentment of Nigerians toward the PDP, which has failed in the past 13 years, to proffer solution to the fundamental issues of state police, devolution of power and restructuring of the polity, among others that could strengthen the country’s unity.

Without a united front, dislodging the PDP from Aso Rock and offering Nigerians a pro-Nigerians government, may remain a dream for generations. Hence, the new ambush for the PDP.

Up in arms against the PDP are: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Three of the parties have named their negotiating teams and Tuesday’s meeting of 10 governors in Lagos to further cement the merger deal underscored the seriousness attached to the ‘rescue Nigeria project.’

The options available

Should the parties involved in the merger talks satisfy the conditions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as contained in Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2010, the coast will be cleared for them to sail in one boat in the 2015, especially at the presidential poll.

Merger, accord, alliance and fusion are the options on the card for consideration by the party of like minds.

Merger

This arrangement would make the parties in the deal to lose their individual identies as they would apply to electoral umpire for the registration of a new political party, under a new name.

The four parties rose from a meeting in Abuja yesterday and announced that they have merged into one party – the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 Accord

Under this arrangement, the parties will not only field candidates in areas where they are politically weak but urge their members to support the candidates of the strongest party. The arrangement may not be applied to all categories of election.

Alliance

In an alliance, parties involved would sit down to work out the terms of alliance, including the sharing of political offices and party positions. Such offices are shared on the strength of the parties.

Fusion

The parties under this arrangement agree to drop their identities and collapse their structures and roll everything into the new party, platform of which they have agreed to use to contest elections.

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