Over 6,000 delegates from the thirty six states and Abuja, who are members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, converged in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, Saturday, to unanimously approve the recommendation of it’s merger committee, to merge with the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN; and the Congress for Progressives Change, CPC; to form a mega party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The motion for the merger was moved by Suleiman Argungu, former Deputy Governor of Kebbi State. It was seconded by the party’s chairman in Cross Rivers State, Martins Bisson.
The party’s national legal adviser, Salisu Fagge, who moderated the session thereafter asked the delegates to raise their hands if they agree to the motion moved by Mr. Argungu.
Although almost all the delegates raised their hands, Mr. Fagge nevertheless asked anyone who disagrees with the motion to step forward so that they will be given the chance to state their reasons for opposing the motion. No one came out, and the motion was unanimously passed.
The delegates also passed a second motion, which amended article 20, sub-section (1) of the party’s 1996 constitution.
The motion was to the effect that the convention has amended the provision of seven days notice, required to enable members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the party to meet, to 3 days.
The motion was moved by George Moghalu, and it was seconded by Abdulhamid Suleiman, chairman of Taraba State Chapter of the party.
A third motion moved by Olawole Olatunji was in respect of article 24 (2) of the party’s constitution. The section deals with expulsion of party members and Mr. Olatunji’s motion was seconded by Mikhail Amin also from Niger State.
Under the motion, the convention approved NEC’s recommendation that a member of the party from Usuma ward of Bwari Area Council of Abuja, Balance Isa, be expelled from the party for anti-party activities.
Delegates approved both motions by raising of hands, while no one opposed.
The host governor, who also doubles as the Chairman of the convention planning committee, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, thereafter read the resolutions of the convention, based on the earlier three motions passed; and the delegates re-affirmed their agreement to the motions.
Mr. Yari also said by that resolution, the ANPP has formally agreed to dissolve and joined two other parties, the ACN and CPC, to form the APC, and has also approved the constitution, manifesto, logo and other insignia of the new party as recommended by the merger committee.
Why the merger
In his opening remarks, earlier, Mr. Yari, stated that the party resolved to merge with others in order to ” enable Nigerians enjoy real dividends of democracy as opposed to the sufferings and abuse being faced at present”.
He also told the gathering to remain stead fast and not be intimidated by what he referred to as attempt to scuttle merger, saying “we assure that no one can stop the merger, the ruling party should look at this large gathering and know that Nigerians are yearning for change.”
The national chairman of the party, Ogbonnaya Onu, in his speech, said the National Working Committee under his leadership restored the party’s image in the eyes of Nigerians.
“When we took over two and a half years ago, many had difficulty, distinguishing us from the ruling party,” he said, adding that “now however, the ANPP has a distinct image as an independent political party full of promise, and which has also promoted strong internal democracy”.
Mr. Onu also said the 14 years of PDP, brought nothing but unnecessary killings.
“Nigeria at the moment knows no peace, yet we are not at war. People go to Churches and Mosque, unsure if they will return alive, most families cannot provide lunch and dinner, and many children go to bed on empty stomach,” he said.
He added that despite Nigeria being rich, most Nigerians are poor, and also blamed the ruling party for the bad blood that exists between it and other parties.
“The ruling party sees the opposition as enemies, instead of competitors; it is the opposition that gives credibility to democracy,” he said, while also assuring Nigerians that “help is on the way”.
Other speakers including the Chairman of the Party’s Board Of Trustees and former governor of Borno State, Ali Sheriff; Governor of Borno- represented by his deputy- Zannah Mustapha; and the party’s candidate in the 2011 presidential election and former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, all followed the same line of highlighting the perceived ills of the ruling party and called on Nigerians to join the new party, which they said will make life better for all.
Other parties too
The other two merging partners, ACN and CPC, also sent representatives to the convention.
The ACN team was led by Nuhu Ribadu, it’s presidential candidate in 2011, which also had governors Raul Aregbesola of Osun and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, as well as the party’s national Secretary, Lawal Shuaibu, and ANPP former National chairman and now ACN member, Yusuf Alli.
CPC’s delegation was led by Mustapha Salisu.
Mr. Ribadu, in the speech he read on behalf of the ACN National Chairman, Bisi Akande, recalled that even before the merger, ANPP and ACN, had a working relationship in Zamfara State.
He also condoled with the government and people of the state, over the death, last week of the Emir of Gummi, Aliyu Abara.
Mr. Ribadu said the major aim of the merger is to “remove the incompetent and corrupt regime that is making life difficult for Nigerians”.
Mr. Salisu, speaking for the CPC said the gatherings taking place simultaneously in Gusau and Abuja “mark the funeral rites of the PDP, while naming ceremony for the newly born APC will hold soon”.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be fair to all parties come 2015.
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