How APGA joined APC, by ACN

ECHOING fairness and justice, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has clarified the situation under which APGA was included in the membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), saying it was an act of good faith based on available information and prevailing circumstances, rather than a deliberate act to mislead Nigerians or railroad APGA into the merger.

Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called on opposition parties in the country to join forces with the APC.

In the same vein, a member of the House of Representatives representing Owan Federal Constituency in Edo State, Pally Iriase, at the weekend said APC was a solution to Nigeria’s political problems.

He, however, cautioned that what would make the party attractive was if it is able to entrench internal democracy, which he admitted was lacking in most political parties in the county today.

Reacting to APGA’s published disclaimer of the APC, ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said in a statement issued in Abuja Sunday that the new party has absolute respect for the rights of individuals or groups on whether or not to associate within a democracy.

Explaining how APGA was included in the list of parties that consummated the merger, it said: ‘’We recognise the person and status of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who as Imo State Governor has been a great player and figure in Nigerian political landscape, as well as Senator Annie Okonkwo, a seasoned politician and respectable lawmaker.

‘’We believe in their representation that APGA is interested in the merger; hence we worked with them in good faith. They participated effectively and positively in the meeting of all governors of the parties concerned and in the meetings of the merger committees of the parties, leading to the statement released by all the governors endorsing the merger and the one by the merger committees announcing the formation of the APC.’’

However, the ACN said going by the statement signed on behalf of some APGA members by Dr. Tim Menakaya, the APC had come to the full realisation that there is dissent in the rank and file of the party (APGA).

‘’In spite of this, and since democracy is about choice, alignments and re-alignments hinged on the fundamentals of individuals’ freedom of association, we respect their position, and will like to describe as unfortunate whatever misconception the purported full involvement of APGA in the merger may have generated.

‘’We also assure APGA that we are willing to work with the party whenever it normalises its internal process and is ready to join the platform. We all remain brethren within the Nigerian family and our doors remain open in the spirit of the new party,’’ it said.

The ACN explained, however, that it was not only parties that can join APC, saying that progressive individuals and groups are welcomed to the fold of the new party.

‘’On this basis, therefore, individuals such as the Imo State governor and others of like minds are still considered members of the APC,’’ the party said, while reiterating its resolve and commitment to the merger of the ACN, CPC and ANPP in a final push to rescue Nigeria.

Rising from a meeting in Enugu at the weekend, CNPP said the call had become necessary to salvage the country and save it from further abuse.

In a statement after the meeting by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, CNPP said: “We are making this wake-up call based on the urgent patriotic need for all progressives to join hands in halting the dangerous slide of Nigeria to a failed state.”