BARELY 24 hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), registered the All Progressives Congress (APC), its national officers, led by the deputy national president, Honourable Bello Masari; deputy national secretary, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; Senator Nazifi Ibrahim from Bauchi State and an unidentified female leader of the party paid a visit to former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, at his residence in Minna, Niger State. Nigerian Tribune findings showed that the visit may not be unconnected with the membership drive of the new party. It was further gathered that no sooner than they arrived the Minna country home of the former president that they were ushered into the inner chambers for a closed door meeting. Attempts by journalists to get access to the visiting APC chieftains were rebuffed by security personnel attached to the residence. Also on Thursday, Babangida described as a welcome development, the registration of APC by INEC, adding that he was still a firm believer in two-party system. Babangida, immediately after his investiture as a Fellow of the International Institute for Leadership and Governance by the chairman of the governing board of the National Examinations Council ( NECO), Dr Paddy K. Njoku, at his residence in Minna, said “I have always been and I will continue to be a strong believer of two-party system in the country and I have said it several times that the coming on board of APC is a welcome development. “With the registration of the party, we will now have vibrant political associations in the polity and as citizens, you would have the chance to join any political party of your choice,” he said. He, however, advised various political parties participating in the 2015 elections to communicate to Nigerians on what they intended to do for, not only the people, but for the country. APC holds mega rally in Osun, Lagos Members of the newly registered APC in Osun State, on Thursday, held a mega rally to signal the birth of the new party. Also in Lagos, members formally inaugurated the party, with the state governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola; his deputy, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and others inaugurating the flag of the party in the state. Speakers at the event in Osun included acting chairman of the party, Mr Adelowo Adebiyi; deputy governor of the state, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; the state Attorney-General, Mr Wale Afolabi; former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Sola Akinwumi and chieftains of the CPC and those of ANPP. Adebiyi said “the birth of APC will be the rise and fall of many. Those who have been destroying our democracy will fall from their high places, while those who stand for truth, justice and democracy will rise to effect the agenda of change from evil to good.” He said the registration of APC by INEC was a triumph of good over evil, adding that the party was the platform of unity to end the atrocities of PDP. It’s a new political dawn —Ajimobi Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, lauded the registration of APC byINEC, saying with APC, “it is a new political dawn in Nigeria and a fresh air in the Nigerian political waters.” The governor, in a statement issued in Ibadan, on Thursday, by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, said with the development, the progressives were now set to rescue the country from the abyss into which it had been plunged. He said with the registration of APC, history had been made, as it was the first merger to be midwifed in the annals of political parties in Nigeria. According to the governor, the coming on board of APC was the resultant effect of the commitment, doggedness, political sagacity and resolve of people of like minds across the country. He added that the stage was now set for the progressives to spread the gospel of APC to everywhere in the country. It’s a call for change —Amosun Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said the registration of APC by INEC was a formal endorsement of the objectives of the new party to bring about positive changes in the standard of living of Nigerians. The governor also described the registration as a sign that democracy had come of age in Nigeria, with the emergence of broad-based, viable and credible alternative to the ruling PDP at the centre. Amosun, in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the registration would afford APC leaders the opportunity to mobilise Nigerians behind the party’s agenda for bringing about socio-economic development of the country. “The good people of Nigerians who have been yearning for positive change will be looking up to our new party to liberate them and we have no option but to live up to their expectation. “We cannot afford to disappoint them, particularly after they have expressed the desire for the replication at the national level of the giant strides that progressive governors in APC fold are bringing about in their respective states,” he said. He assured that APC would not take the support it had so far received from the people for granted, promising that the party was determined to give governance a new face and deliver abundantly the dividends of democracy to the people. He commended INEC under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega, for following strictly the provision of the law while considering the application of the party. It’s victory for democracy —Zamfara acting gov Acting governor of Zamfara State, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala Mohammed, said the registration of APC was a victory for democracy and the rule of law. In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Mohammed Birnin Magaji, made available to the Nigerian Tribune, the acting governor maintained that the wisdom and perseverance by the agitators had made the coast smooth and clear. “The wisdom, focus, patience, perseverance and sincerity of purpose with which all the stakeholders in APC pursued the merger made the coast very smooth and clear for this feat,” he said. While lauding INEC for living up to expectation, the statement noted that the subsequent registration of APC had confirmed the commission as an unbiased electoral body. According to him, the people of Zamfara State would continue to pray for Nigeria, with the hope that the newly registered APC would chase the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of the Aso Rock Villa in 2015. Shekarau congratulates Nigerians Former governor of Kano State and chairman, ANPP merger committee, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, congratulated Nigerians, especially those in ANPP, CPC and ACN on the formal registration of APC. In a statement issued on Thursday, the former governor said INEC had proved to Nigerians that it was out to promote democracy and stand by the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He assured Nigerians that APC would be the alternative they had been yearning for. Lagos Assembly commends INEC Lagos State House of Assembly lauded INEC for upholding the tenets of the rule of law and democratic ethos, by registering APC. The assembly gave the commendation on Wednesday, in its reaction, stressing that the registration of APC had further widened the political space for the opposition forces in Nigeria. Its chairman, committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Honourable Segun Olulade, who spoke on behalf of the assembly, said the enhancement of a stable and strong opposition was one of the conditions for sustainable democracy and development in any polity. Olulade, who described APC as the major opposition party in the country, maintained that the hallmark of an electoral umpire, which INEC represented, was to provide a level playing field for all contesting parties without fear or favour. Nigeria’s democracy now rescued —Lanlehin The registration of APC was described as a divine touch, which successfully rescued the nation’s democracy from total collapse. The lawmaker representing Oyo South senatorial district in the Senate, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, said this on Thursday. Lanlehin, in a statement issued by his media aide, Olawale Sadare, said “the development marked a symbolic victory for democracy in Nigeria, considering the intrigues which played out since the merging parties made their intention known to INEC and the general public. “The global fear about sustaining democratic governance in Nigeria has been laid to rest with APC coming on board. “With this development, hope of a united, developed and prosperous Nigeria has been rekindled. “Nigerians must, therefore, rise above ethnicity and religious sentiments to embrace the progressive party and support it to dislodge PDP, which has done enough harms to Nigeria and Nigerians,” Lanlehin stated. Join forces with progressives, Obende tasks Nigerians The senator representing Edo North senatorial district in the Senate, Senator (Dr) Domingo Obende, while reacting to the development, called on progressives and true democrats in the country to join forces with the new party, so as to aid the growth of democracy in the country. This was as he lauded INEC for the eventual registration of APC, while he also commended leaders of the now defunct ACN, All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), for their tenacity in ensuring the registration of the new party. In a statement by his aide, Pendo Apologun, in Benin City, on Thursday, he said “this development has shown that when people resolved for a change, no matter the opposition that confront them, they will get their way. All the opposition that greeted the resolve to register our new party was a result of the fact that anti-democratic forces have seen the light in us and that we represent the hope He called on his supporters and Nigerians to give the new party the needed support for the “great push for 2015 general election.” We were apprehensive —Ekiti ACN The Ekiti State chapter of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has expressed relief on the registration of APC, saying its members were apprehensive over the inexplicable delay in the registration. The state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Tunde Adeleke, in a telephone interview, however, said “we are going to shake Nigeria.” Adeleke said “APC is a veritable tool for the emancipation of Nigeria,” adding that “Nigerians should now embrace the new party as their own.” Also reacting, the deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Adetunji Orisalade, lauded INEC for the registration, saying “INEC has demonstrated that it is truly an independent body that can be trusted.” Speaking through his media aide, Mr Taiwo Oluwaleye, the deputy speaker contended that “the registration of APC by INEC is a signal of the commencement of a new phase in the struggle for the emancipation of true democratic change in Nigeria.” UPP congratulates APC The leadership and members of United Progressive Party (UPP) have congratulated the newly registered APC, while it described the registration by INEC as sweet music to the ears of lovers of democracy. In a statement issued through its national publicity secretary, Chief Ogbuehi Dike, UPP noted that opposition parties were the bedrock of constitutional governments, while it expressed the hope that the emergence of APC would further enrich the country’s democracy. The party said Nigerians expected credible participation in the political process, considering the high profile of APC promoters. It commended INEC for opening the democratic space and urged it to remain a credible umpire in dealing with all political parties ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial election in Anambra State and 2015 presidential poll. The statement added that UPP would engage all registered political parties in robust encounter that would uplift democratic process ahead 2015 general election. APC’ll keep PDP on its toe —Ex-minister Former Minister of State for Education and leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, Dr Jerry Agada, described the registration of APC as a force that would make the ruling PDP to be on its toe. Agada, also a former president of Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), speaking on Thursday with the Nigerian Tribune on phone, said the registration of APC would eventually help the masses, as electoral parties in the country would now articulate their manifestos in a way to attract electorate. The former minister, who said the PDP was not afraid over the emerging party, added that the development would rather intensify its efforts at working harder to ensure victory in upcoming elections. In a reaction, the state chairman of the defunct ACN, Mr Abba Yaro, described the registration as big plus to the nation’s democracy. He expressed optimism that the new party would dislodge the ruling PDP in many states, particularly in Benue. It’s good for democracy —Yakasai, Dan-Musa Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, the adviser on National Assembly matters to former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, described the registration of APC as a healthy political development that would promote democracy. Yakasai, while reacting to the development, insisted that the country needed a viable opposition party that would attract support from Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic and religious backgrounds. Also, the deputy Senate president in the Second Republic, Alhaji Abubakar Dan-Musa, commended INEC for approving the registration of APC, adding that it was a welcome development.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 13:08:31 +0000
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