APC meets INEC demands, emerges as Party July ending: Barring any last minute objection from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be registered as a political party before July 31, this year, Sunday Independent investigation has shown. Reason: Leaders of the coalition have since July 1, filled the INEC form PA (1) and submitted all the documentation required from them by the electoral body. Prince Tony Momoh, Chairman of the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), not only confirmed toSunday Independent during the week that they have met all the conditions, but also added that going by the provisions of the Electoral Act, APC would be a registered political party within the next 30 days. An official of INEC also confirmed to this newspaper on Friday that the Commission had received all the needed documents that would facilitate the registration of the APC from the leaders. He would neither confirm nor deny that the APC would emerge as a party by the end of this month. It also emerged during the week that a group, the All Progressives Congress-National Grassroots Mobilisation League (APC-NGLM) has vowed to mobilise support for the budding party ahead of the 2015 general election. Led by Dr Asira E. Asira, its National Coordinator/Consultant, Umar Alkali (National Secretary), Architect Amdi Amdi (National Organising Secretary) and Chief Anayo Arinze (National Publicity Secretary), the group said it would ensure that the country experienced change through the platform of the APC. Momoh said there is nothing stopping the registration of APC as its leaders have ensured that it complied with the Electoral Act in the merger process. “We have filled the form PA (1), swear-in the interim officers and then sent all the documentation to INEC – copies of the constitution, copies of the manifesto, logo and symbol of the party,” he said, adding that the electoral body would have to act within 30 days otherwise the party stood registered. “When all the things have been submitted, the 30 days starts counting. So before the end of this month, APC will be registered by INEC or stands registered if at the end of 30 days INEC has not raised any issue why it shouldn’t be registered,” Momoh said. The CPC chairman also said INEC has no choice but to register the party because its role in the registration of political parties is merely administrative. “They really have no choice. The registration is an administrative issue. They are going to verify the claims. They will visit the national headquarters; they will want to see all the officers who are known in the form, they will like to see them. When they give the date of visit, the officers will be there to identify themselves and to be sure that they are not ghost officers,” Momoh said. He also dismissed as untrue, reports that the 2015 presidential ambition of General Muhammadu Buhari is unsettling the leadership of APC. According to Momoh, those peddling such tales were the same people that had written off the merger, saying it would not work. “How can anybody be talking of ambition in a party that has not been registered? There is no such thing. And when we get to the bridge we will cross it,” he said. The APC-NGLM, which said it was impressed with the manner the merging parties have successfully handled the formation of APC without any crisis, added that it was an indication that the party would succeed and lead the country in 2015. “The meeting agreed that the survival of the country is beyond religious and ethnic sentiments. Therefore, all hands must be on deck through full participation in APC rescue mission. The APC as a political party is a moving train on a leadership and economic rescue mission for Nigeria. “The APC-NGLM as a single cause pressure group within the party observed further that there is need for all patriotic and progressive-minded Nigerians to join the party to save the country from her imminent political and economic collapse,” the group said. Meanwhile, the INEC will soon begin distribution of more than 20 million permanent voter cards already delivered to it to Nigerians. Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega told Sunday Independent that out of the 40 million permanent voter cards ordered by the Commission more than 20 million have been delivered, noting that, “we want to receive a substantial number before we start distribution. We ordered for 40 million in the first batch so hopefully, we will begin distribution soon.” “INEC has given out a contract for the production of the first batch of 40 million permanent voter cards to be distributed before the 2015 general elections,” he added. The Commission, which registered over 73 million new voters during the 2011 general elections, at the time, had issued temporary cards to all voters. INEC had signed contracts for the production of permanent cards that will have special electronic security features. Idowu said INEC would continue to register prospective voters who turned 18 years as stipulated in the constitution. “The Commission intends to begin a regiment of continuous voter registration, probably before the end of this year, but certainly before the 2015 general elections,” Idowu added. “That would be to allow those who have turned 18 after the 2011 general elections to register to vote in subsequent elections. And to also enable those who were unable to register in 2011, to now register, so that they can now get voter ID cards and vote in 2015.” Jega had disclosed last week that the new voter cards would be issued before the end of the year. Jega said the cards with the security features, would improve the integrity of Nigeria’s entire electoral process. “The issue of people using other people’s cards to go and vote, stealing cards or even buying cards will be squarely dealt with. “We already have all the data in our database. We are now going to issue the permanent voter cards. All we need to do between now and 2015 is to buy what I call ‘card readers’ in which we will store all the information, ” said Jega. He said INEC would soon launch a campaign to educate Nigerians about the new cards, which he noted, would protect their vote.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 01:32:33 +0000
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