APC: Working towards a dream come true

[Mirror]

When the idea of opposition parties coming together to form a mega party to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 was made public by some opposition leaders, many thought the dream would not see the light of day.

Some thought that the All Progressives Congress (APC) being spearheaded by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) will crash at the planning stage considering how past efforts to form a mega party or alliance failed.

However, today, the APC has gone past the initial preparations and got to a level that it is now requesting for the approval of the electoral body in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Meaning, therefore, that the idea is becoming a dream come true. In the coalition are five major opposition political parties.

They are the Action Congress of Nigeria; Congress for Progressive Change; All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. Showing its readiness to displace the ruling PDP in 2015 elections, APC on Tuesday named members of its Interim National Executive Committee (NEC). The composition of the party's interim members is part of the prerequisites for APC's registration by INEC.

Emerging from its meeting, the party announced its executives as follows: Chief Bisi Akande (Chairman); Senator Annie Okonkwo (Deputy Chairman, South); Aminu Masari (Deputy Chairman, North); Alhaji Tijani Tumsah (National Secretary); Mallam Nasir-el-Rufai (Deputy National Secretary); Hajiya Sadiya Farouq (National Treasurer); Senator Osita Izunaso (National Organising Secretary) and Mr. Muiz Banire (National Legal Adviser).

Also named are James Ocholi (Deputy Legal Adviser); Alhaji Lai Mohammed (National Publicity Secretary) and Mr. Isa Madu Chul (Deputy National Publicity Secretary); Mrs. Sharon Chiazor (National Woman Leader) and Mr. Abubakar Lado (National Youth Leader).

Those elected as Vice Chairman for the six geo-political zones are: Otunba Niyi Adebayo (South-West); Chief Tom Ikimi (South-South); Gen. Abdullahi Aboki (North-Central); Dr. Ayim Nyerere (South- East); Mr. Salisu Fagge (North-West) and Umaru Duhu (North-East). Some other key members of the executives, such as exofficio members were also named.

Saturday Mirror gathered that the positions were shared among the five political parties. ACN got the post of National Chairman; National Legal Adviser; Deputy National Treasurer; Deputy National Youth Leader; two Vice Chairmen and two ex-officio members while CPC produced the National Treasurer; Deputy National Chairman (North); Deputy National Secretary; Deputy National Legal Adviser; Deputy National Auditor; National Woman Leader; National Youth Leader; one Vice Chairman and one ex-officio members.

ANPP got the slot for the National Secretary; National Financial Secretary; Deputy National Organising Secretary; National Welfare Secretary; Deputy National Publicity Secretary; two Vice Chairmen and two ex-officio members while APGA was given the National Organising Secretary; Deputy National Chairman (South); Deputy Financial Secretary; Deputy National Woman Leader; one Vice Chairman and one ex-officio member's post.

DPP got the post of the National Auditor and Deputy National Welfare Secretary positions. Quite an achievement, many political observers have said of the feat achieved by the APC in that light.

This is because efforts in the past had ended up in the river that the party has just crossed. It is the success achieved so far that has made many to conclude that there is a good level of seriousness on the part of the party and that it showed that it had learnt from its past mistakes.

With that, the aprty has given hope that the issue of who to fly the party's flags for various positions during the 2015 elections will not create any chaos. Many also believe that the success recorded by APC in the formation of its interim NEC is in fulfillment of the promise by many of the party leaders that public interest would override personal interest in whatever decision the party is making.

Having gradually inched towards registration after overcoming what was expected to be a stumbling block, needless to say that PDP may be in for a tough challenge come 2015 when the battle will hold. Political analysts are of the view that a lot of things will work in favour of the APC in the battle, particularly, the one for the coveted presidential seat.

One good thing the APC has done is starting its groundwork early enough when compared to its other efforts. Barring any unforeseen inhibition, this time around, the party appears to have started early and that would make it have a good opportunity to strategise. The battle readiness of the party is also seen in the equanimity with which the parties came together as one whole.

The romance between the leaders of the party and some PDP governors is one obvious move which would certainly not work in favour of the ruling party. If the APC succeeds in wooing the governors who are already, in one way or the other, out of favour with the power block in the PDP, then, the coalition will present one big irrepresible front.

The havoc that the APC is capable of doing if it succeeds in its lobbying of some PDP chieftains can be seen in the roles played by eight PDP governors and 11 opposition governors during the election that saw Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State back in office as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), after the expiration of his first term. It would be recalled that despite having 23 governors in its fold, Amaechi defeated President Jonathan and PDP's candidate for the NGF chairmanship post, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, by three votes.

Amaechi scored 19 votes while Jang scored 16 votes. Giving inkling into how much deep the APC has eaten into the fabrics of the PDP, Lai Mohammed recently disclosed that 23 governors were already in the APC.

He said that 12 PDP governors would make their declaration for APC after the party has been registered. Although many of the political parties that melted to form the APC may not be regarded as having their spread nationwide, considering their performance in the last general elections, political observers believe that the coming together of the 'regional parties' under one umbrella will be an added advantage to APC.

Also worthy of note as a plus for the APC is the presence of some heavyweights, such as former Head of State and two-time presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; former governor of Lagos State and national leader of ACN, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; former governor of Kano State and former presidential candidate of ANPP, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; former PDP national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh; former governor of Edo State, Chief John Oyegun; former Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Masari; former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi; former Minister of FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; former chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former ACN presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and 11 governors. Apart from the present gladiators in APC, some prominent Nigerians and politicians are also believed to be working secretly for APC presently in preparation for the 2015 elections.

The calculation in some quarters is that ACN, with the support of Tinubu and South-West governors will deliver South-West for APC while the Governor Okorocha-led APGA faction, with the support of the newly elected APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Senator Annie Okonkwo, and other Igbo chieftains in the party are expected to deliver South-East for APC.

Buhari has an enormous clout in the North putting into consideration his performance in the 2007 and 2011 presidential elections. Buhari is expected to work with Shekarau, CPC and ANPP governors and other prominent Northerners to deliver North for APC.

Ikimi, Oyegun and Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State will be expected to lead the battle in the fight for South-South states for the APC. Simple logic indicates that the ongoing internal wrangling in PDP will be to the advantage of the APC considering the division in the rank and file of PDP.

That is, if the ruling party tarries too long to reconcile the feuding parties and restore confidence in its members. With the proposed automatic ticket for president, governors and members of the National Assembly in PDP as suggested by the chairman of the party's BoT, Tony Anenih, many people are bound to leave the party in droves. The place to be, going by the present calculation, of course, is the APC.

Although, realising the fate that may befall it if urgent steps are not taken to put its house in order, PDP is working assiduously to reconcile all the warring factions in order to forge ahead.

But will the efforts yield fruit, especially when the reconciliation appears not to be genuine? That is the question that begs for an answer. However, that is not to say it is uhuru for the APC already, as PDP may prove to be a hard nut to crack.

Speaking with Saturday Mirror, Oyegun expressed optimism about the readiness of the APC to take over the rein of power. He said the agreement and willingness on the part of some of the prominent politicians in the party to sacrifice is a pointer that APC has come to stay.

His words: "The composition of the members of interim NEC is the final act in all what we need to do to be registered and that is a precursor to what is to come. It is one of the things we could put together to work for the launching of the APC, various congresses and the convention. It is supposed to work for the launching and presentation of APC to the Nigerian public.

"After the first week or two from the time we started negotiation (and I was there at every meeting), I was sure in my mind that the good Lord in Himself has a hand in what was going on. I have no doubt in my mind because I have never seen such agreement and the willingness to sacrifice on the part of Nigerian politicians."

The national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, during his party's NEC meeting hailed the progress made so far in the merger process and expressed confidence that with the APC on ground, realising the goal of producing the next president is possible, if elections are free and fair.

Said he: "Let no one ever think that it will be easy to defeat an incumbent administration. But, it can be done. However, a lot of hard work will be needed. Challenges will come. Our patience will be tested. Our ability to persevere will also be tested.

But if our eyes are on the right path, if we listen attentively to the voice of Nigerians and respect the feelings of all, we will definitely succeed by the grace of the Almighty God.

"Hence, it is important, that building a strong political party requires sufficient consultation, in a way that all organs of the party can function efficiently. It is then, that members can have a strong sense of belonging. By so doing, people will be ready to put in their best for the good of the party.

"I am confident that with the APC on ground, realising our goal of producing the next president of our country is possible, if elections are free and fair. Serious efforts must be made to ensure that every vote, counts and every voter, matters.

Every effort must be made, to ensure that a conducive environment is created to make elections free and fair. This, we should insist on for the good of our country. I believe that with a credible electoral process, our country will be stronger, our democracy will grow and blossom and hence pave the way for the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country."

A chieftain of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Ogbeni Lanre Banjo, said that APC's emergence is commendable.

"We commend them and we hope that we will forge ahead. We can only hope that they contest for 2015 elections because nobody can predict what will happen in future. Let us hope that they will give internal democracy a chance and once they do that I don't think there will be any problem. PDP definitely needs a strong opposition party and that is why I am commending the brain behind the formation of the APC," he said.

A PDP chieftain, Mr. Babatunde Gbadamosi, believes that there is not celebration yet for the APC. He is of the view that the survival of the APC depends on INEC and the courts. Gbadamosi also believes that APC will not shake PDP if they are registered.

"PDP is not going to be shaken by the APC. As separate parties, they couldn't hack it. Is it now that they present one single big target that they will become difficult to overwhelm?" Gbadamosi asked?

National Mirror