Nigeria Opposition Forms Mega Party APC Ahead Of 2015 Vote
Nigeria's leading opposition parties agreed Saturday to merge into an electoral behemoth they vowed would defeat President Goodluck Jona...
http://www.africaeagle.com/2013/05/nigeria-opposition-forms-mega-party-apc.html
Nigeria's leading opposition parties agreed Saturday to merge into an electoral behemoth they vowed would defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 polls.
Two parties -- the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) -- approved the move in separate conventions aired live on television.
The Action Congress of Nigeria okayed the mega party project last month. The result of the merger between Nigeria's top three opposition movements will be called the All Progressive Congress (APC) if its registration is approved by the electoral body.
"This merger will make us too strong for the PDP to resist," said CPC leader Mohammadu Buhari during a convention attended by 3,000 delegates in Abuja.
"We must explore all oportunities to save our country," said Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler who has contested all presidential elections in recent years.
Buhari, a Muslim who was ousted in 1985 after two years in power, is seen as a possible candidate for the new mega party in the 2015 vote.
"We have to change Nigeria for the better and stop the endless drift that has been going on for 14 years the PDP (People's Democratic Party) has been in power," Buhari said.
While he is widely expected to run again, Jonathan, a southern Christian, faces a challenge from within his own party, including from those who believe he should stand aside in favour of a northern Muslim.
Buhari also accused the ruling party of failing to stem the deadly violence caused by Islamist group Boko Haram in the north.
"It has failed to secure the nation... there is mass sufferring, widespread poverty and unemployment in the country," he said.
The ANPP held its convention in the northern town of Gusau and also vowed the new party would be too strong for Jonathan's party.
The ruling PDP has won every presidential election since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.
Previous attempts by the opposition to unite have failed and, if approved, the new APC party would significantly change the political landscape in Africa's most populous nation and top oil producer.
The Action Congress of Nigeria okayed the mega party project last month. The result of the merger between Nigeria's top three opposition movements will be called the All Progressive Congress (APC) if its registration is approved by the electoral body.
"This merger will make us too strong for the PDP to resist," said CPC leader Mohammadu Buhari during a convention attended by 3,000 delegates in Abuja.
"We must explore all oportunities to save our country," said Buhari, a retired general and former military ruler who has contested all presidential elections in recent years.
Buhari, a Muslim who was ousted in 1985 after two years in power, is seen as a possible candidate for the new mega party in the 2015 vote.
"We have to change Nigeria for the better and stop the endless drift that has been going on for 14 years the PDP (People's Democratic Party) has been in power," Buhari said.
While he is widely expected to run again, Jonathan, a southern Christian, faces a challenge from within his own party, including from those who believe he should stand aside in favour of a northern Muslim.
Buhari also accused the ruling party of failing to stem the deadly violence caused by Islamist group Boko Haram in the north.
"It has failed to secure the nation... there is mass sufferring, widespread poverty and unemployment in the country," he said.
The ANPP held its convention in the northern town of Gusau and also vowed the new party would be too strong for Jonathan's party.
The ruling PDP has won every presidential election since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.
Previous attempts by the opposition to unite have failed and, if approved, the new APC party would significantly change the political landscape in Africa's most populous nation and top oil producer.
If the APC wants to cure common headache they should look for a credible candidate without blemish not Buhari who will not sell to Southerners
ReplyDeleteOnce Buhari is fielded then you can be sure all those currently being hunted by the Boko Haram will opt for the other parties even if they field a goat
Thanks
Keep quiet annonymous
ReplyDeleteIf Buhari is flag bearer they wont get my vote
ReplyDeleteIt will be an error of a gargantuan scale, if, after all the work to get a mega party going, they spoil it by fielding Buhari as a candidate. Nigerians are tired of the old generation of 'leaders'; if I remember clearly, the same Buhari said he would not contest again after 2011 elections.
ReplyDeleteIf he forgot something in Aso Rock, he should send someone younger to go help him fetch it.