2015: PDP jittery over APC emergence

Few days after four parties combined to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), there are indications that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is jittery that it may lose control of some states in the North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-East and South-South.

The party had since 2011 poll lost its control of the South-West and the row between the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and sacked National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, seems to have foreclosed the chances of the party in the region in 2015.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the four parties ought to hold separate national conventions to ratify their decision to merge before any merger application could be considered.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that contrary to the posturing of Tukur, which dismissed the APC as no threat, the PDP fears that the new merger party could spring a surprise.

Findings revealed that the PDP leadership is worried that it might lose total control of states in the North-East, where Tukur hails from, to APC.

It was learnt that the sectarian violence in the North-East and the failure of the PDP administration to restore peace had caused political leaders to seek an alternative platform.

In spite of the fact that Vice-President Namadi Sambo went on an appeasement mission to Borno State last week, the people of the state may pitch their tent with the progressives in APC.

Also, the long-drawn battle between Tukur and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has made the loss of the state a fait accompli if the matter is not addressed.

Other strategic states in the North-West and North-Central where the PDP sits on a tight rope are Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, and Kaduna.

While the PDP may lose one or two states in the South-South, the South-East is likely to be a battle ground for all the parties.

According to investigation, PDP leaders had been analysing the political situation since APC made its debut.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The party has really been quirking since the four parties formalised their merger with the emergence of APC. With the present internal crisis in the party, the leaders fear that the new party might benefit from it unless the situation is remedied.

“What the APC has done to the PDP is to force it to go back to the drawing board and re-strategise for 2015. Tukur may be pretending that APC is no threat, but even within his own National Working Committee (NWC), all is not well.

“Tukur cannot boast that it enjoys the confidence of PDP members in any state in the North-East. The Boko Haram crisis and conflict with Nyako have worsened the leverage of PDP in the zone.

“And the North-West, where a former CPC Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, commands large following is an uphill task for Vice-President Namadi Sambo to tackle.

“The agitation for power shift to the North in 2015 is also more pronounced in the North-West than any part of the North.”

A chieftain of the party said: “It is difficult for PDP to dismiss APC with a wave of the hand. Our leaders have agreed that we have a challenge at hand and we are working out appropriate strategies to curtail this political menace.

“We have agreed that we must put our house in order as fast as possible or else we may lose out in 2015.

“Even the presidency is not underrating the forces behind APC.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the four parties could only transform into APC after fulfilling all the conditions in Section 84 of the Electoral Act.

A top official of the commission said: “Merger process is not a one-off thing or a day’s process. All the four parties need to comply with Section 84 of the Electoral Act, including holding separate national conventions to ratify their decision to merge.

“As far as INEC is concerned, we have only noted the new aspiration of the four parties. We have not received any letter on the merger.

“The parties know what is involved in a merger. That is why they are yet to communicate INEC.

“One thing is clear, the Electoral Act gives room for merger of parties after all procedures have been complied with. It is left to the parties to take advantage of the law. So, the question of illegality does no arise yet.

“The final decision to approve the merger or not is solely that of INEC.”

Section 84 of the Electoral Act says: “Any two or more registered political parties may merge on approval by the commission following a formal request presented to the commission by the political parties for that purpose.

“Political parties intending to merge shall each give to the commission 90 days notice of their intention to do so before a general election.

“The written request for merger shall be sent to the Chairman of the commission and shall be signed jointly by the National Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer for the time being of the different political parties proposing the merger and shall be accompanied by

(a) a special resolution passed by the national convention of each of the political parties proposing to merge, approving the merger.

(b) The proposed full name and acronym, constitution, manifesto, symbol or logo of the party together with the addresses of the national office of the party resulting from the merger; and

(c) Evidence of payment of administrative costs of N100, 000 or as may be fixed from time to time by an Act of the National Assembly.

“On receipt of the request for merger of political parties, the commission shall consider the request and, if the parties have fulfilled the requirements of the Constitution and this Act, approve the proposed merger and communicate its decision to the parties concerned before the expiration of 30 days from the date of the receipt of the formal request-

Provided that if the commission fails to communicate its decision within 30 days the merger shall be deemed to be effective.

“Where the request for the proposed merger is approved, the commission shall withdraw and cancel the certificates of registration of all the political parties opting for the merger and substitute a single certificate of registration in the name of the party resulting from the merger.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, no merger of political parties received by the commission less than 90 days before any general election in the country shall not be considered by the commission.”