APC registration: Beginning of the end of PDP —Ribadu, others  A chieftain of the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has charged members of the party to strive harder to achieve the ultimate goal of dislodging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power. Ribadu, who joined other Nigerians in expressing happiness over the emergence of the major opposition party, in a statement in Abuja, congratulated key players “for shoving their personal interests, in order to allow for mutation of a pan-Nigerian party that can provide credible alternative to the ruling party.” The statement, issued by his media aide, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, quoted the 2011 presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as expressing hope that the new party would have sweeping victory in the next general election. According to him, the registration of the party by the electoral body “is not the end. It is the beginning of the end of misrule and cluelessness,” as he called for renewed zeal and commitment by members of the party to achieve the desired objective. He called on Nigerians to resist manipulations of the electoral process, either through whipping up of religious or sectional sentiments or by the use of money, maintaining that 2015 general election would be a major litmus test for the opposition and all progressive Nigerians. PDP days are numbered —Kawu Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Suleiman Abdurahman Kawu, on Wednesday, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registering APC, saying with the registration, the days of the ruling PDP are numbered. The lawmaker, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, maintained that the commission had lived up to expectation, by performing its constitutional responsibility despite daunting challenges. According to him, “with the coming of the APC, the days of the ruling PDP are numbered. Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief since the APC is here to salvage the country in 2015.” He added that “I will like the leadership of our new party to ensure that the culture of impunity, lawlessness and disregard for laid down procedures, which characterised the PDP, is not replicated in APC. “Also, the leadership should ensure internal democracy in the party by conducting free, fair and transparent primaries ahead of the 2015 general election, as this is the sure way of avoiding the mistakes of the PDP,” he stated. APC’ll take over Aso Rock in 2015 —Anyanwu Imo State chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Marshal Okeafor Anyanwu, said with the registration of APC by INEC, a new baby that will deliver this country has been born. He also said the national chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, had proved to the people that he was a detribalised Nigerian. He pointed out that the fusing of the progressive parties to form APC would bring healthy development to, not only members of the party, but the people of Nigeria. Anyanwu said it was now left for members of the party to go back to the drawing board, work out plans to win elections in states and at the federal. Also, a member of PDP in the state, Mr Paulinus Okey Udochukwu, said the registration of APC would bring about healthy development in Nigeria politics. According to him, the two major political parties would now slug it out to take over Aso Rock. Another resident of the state, Mr Victor Duruamaku, said with APC coming on board, 2015 elections would be a two-party affair. He commended the INEC chairman for taking a bold step to ensure the registration of the party, while he wished Nigerians free and fair elections in 2015. It’s a welcome development —Erubami National president and convener, Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTAS), Comrade Mashood Erubami, said the registration of APC was a welcome development. Erubami, who made this known in a press release signed by him and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, added that the registration would, no doubt, fill the gap left open by the absence of a strong, competent, better and non-tribal opposition party in the country. “INEC was, no doubt, rightly guided by the constitution and the Electoral Act in considering the registration of APC, having submitted the required documentation and met all conditions for registration. “This has re-confirmed INEC’s credible rating of a truly independent election management body,” the statement added. ACN has lost S/West identity —Lagos PDP The Lagos State chapter of PDP said the re-branding was the worst mistake of the ACN, adding that “now, the ACN has lost its South-West identity, because of over ambition to win the presidency.” The state chapter of PDP, in a statement on Wednesday, said the registration never worth celebrating, as the merging parties put together had never “posed any iota of threat to the PDP.” This is just as it called for caution over the registration, as it demanded probe into the processes leading to the confirmation, to ascertain whether or not due process was followed. In a statement by its publicity secretary, Taofeek Gani, the party said this was imperative, in view of the pending suit on the ownership of the acronym, APC. The suit, according to the party, was still pending in court, adding that for INEC to flout the rule, “there is a skeleton in somebody’s wardrobe.” It said the acronym APC gave no practical advantage to the party, adding that the frustration that led to the re-branding would still manifest, as people would look out for personalities in the party. APC not a threat to PDP —Akinbade A governorship aspirant on the platform of PDP in Osun State for 2014 election, Chief Fatai Akinbade, on Wednesday, said the registration of APC by INEC was a welcome development, but declared that the major opposition platform cannot be a threat to the PDP Akinbade, former Secretary to the Osun State Government, while speaking on telephone with the Nigerian Tribune, said the registration would make Nigeria’s democracy formidable. He, however, ruled out the possibility of APC defeating PDP in the coming presidential election and gubernatorial election in Osun. According to him, APC would still be the defunct ACN in the South-West, adding the other parties in the merger, including the All Nigeria People’s Democratic Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), never existed in the zone. He also argued that APC would still be the same defunct CPC in Nasarawa State and defunct ANPP in Borno, adding that the merger platform could not be more than the components that formed it. It’s victory for Nigerian masses —Oyo CPC Oyo State chapter of defunct CPC, on Wednesday, expressed delight at the registration of APC, declaring it as victory for democracy and the Nigerian masses. The state chairman of the party, Alhaji Abideen Oladimeji, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, lauded INEC for taking the right step by registering APC, adding that the development would ensure the emancipation of Nigerians from the claws of PDP. According to him, the Nigerian masses had continued to face hardship, saying APC was brought about to address the numerous problems in the country. He pleaded with Nigerians to vote for a change in the coming general election, by entrusting their fate in APC and witness the difference, just as he said PDP should be preparing to move out of Aso Rock in 2015. It’ll further course of democracy —NDP The national chairman of National Democratic Party (NDP), Chudi Chukwuani, described the registration of APC as a development that would further the course of democracy in the country. Chukwuani, however, said the coming on board of APC would shrink number of parties in the country, adding that it was left for Nigerians to decide which party to vote into power in 2015. The NDP boss, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on phone, said with the registration of APC, the merger parties, including ACN, ANPP and CPC, would now have to return their certificates to INEC and ceased from existing as individual parties. Speaking on the chances of APC in the 2015 presidential poll, Chukwuani said anybody could win the election, adding that it all depended on the electorate. He said the NDP was not yet considering joining the coalition, adding that it would do so after evaluating its programmes in line with that of APC and what benefits the new party had for Nigerians. Good governance ahead for Nigerians —Okotiebor Delta State chairman of the defunct ACN, Chief Adolo Okotiebor, while reacting to the registration of APC, said although it was long overdue, the registration was a welcome development. “We are commending the merger committee for an excellent job and we also appreciate INEC for the steps taken in ensuring the registration of the party. “We are telling our good people of Nigeria that we are looking forward to providing good governance at all levels to the people,” he said. Better choice now open to Nigerians —Delta DPP Delta State chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), Chief Tony Ezeagwu, said “the registration is a good one, at least.” He said the merger had created another opening, a better one for Nigerians to choose from. According to him, the development would deflate the ego of PDP, which had been parading itself as the largest party in Africa. “The issue of PDP being the largest party can no longer hold. Now, the number of governors belonging to APC and the PDP is almost at par now. Nigerians should, therefore, expect a better performance from this new party,” he said. Enugu agog Residents of Enugu, on Thursday, went agog, following the news of the registration of APC by INEC. Immediately the news filtered through, Nigerian Tribune observed that there were rekindled enthusiasms, as the people were seen discussing the development in groups, both in offices and public places, including markets. PDP not threatened —Nnaji Chief Ray Nnaji, a legal practitioner and former Commissioner of Youths and Sports in Enugu State, as well as former national auditor of PDP, in his reaction, said it was a good development for democracy. “We welcome APC to the fold. But we are not afraid of them. “Though the members will give us a good fight, we are not bothered, because PDP is still on the ground. “I think it is healthy for our democracy,” he said. APC’ll be tough for PDP —UPP chieftain Chief Simon Ogbodo, chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, said “by the registration of APC by INEC, it is no longer going to be easy for PDP to continue clinching to victory at elections.” According to him, “the political equation of the country has changed. It is no going to be easy for the PDP that has claimed that it will remain in power for the next 50 years. “If one considers the calibre of Nigerians behind APC and their spread, you will know that 2015 is going to be very difficult for PDP. “From this achievement of registration, it appears members of the party are serious. The permutation that they are not going to work together because they are strange bed fellows is illogical,” he said. APC must work hard —UNN don A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Greg Mbadiwe, in an interview in Enugu, said APC had to work hard for it to win elections. “The PDP has been on the ground and it will take APC extra work to displace the ruling party in 2015. Be that as it may, Nigeria is no longer a one party state, going by the registration of APC,” he said. Reverend John Nwobodo said the registration of APC by INEC was a good omen for the nation’s democracy, adding that there would be a robust 2015 general election, as the electorate now had a choice “We had PDP. We now have APC and people can now take a decision and take their destinies in their hands. The leadership of INEC should be commended for its courage, as there were a series of underground moves to frustrate it from registering APC,” he said. Dr Ben Nwoye, in a telephone interview, was full of praises for INEC, saying that the electoral body had given hope to Nigerian electorate. The Enugu-East senatorial candidate of ACN) in the last general election, noted “It is a good omen, especially for the people of the South-East. “I think with the registration of APC, the people of South-East will have an alternative. We can now find an alternative to try our luck. PDP has failed the larger segment of the people of South-East zone. Definitely, there is going to be change, both at the centre and in the states.” It’s a cheering news —Kogi lawmakers Three lawmakers in Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Henry Ojuola, Honourable Yori Afolabi and Honourable Foluso Daniel, said the news of APC registration was cheering to Nigerians. According to Honourable Ojuola, with the registration, sanity was now being injected into Nigerian politics. “It is equally a test case for the credibility of INEC as an umpire of free, fair and credible election. In 2015, we are expecting election to be based on proper participation, because it would be bumper to bumper,” he said. Honourable Afolabi said “I am happy for the simple fact that Nigerians would have good alternative platform to achieve good governance, which they have been deprived of since the past 14 years under the ruling PDP.” Honourable Daniel said “I am happy that APC has been registered, because it is going to engender quality representation which would lead to the development of the nation and, essentially, the voting masses, who can now boast of dividend of democracy as a result of quality representation.
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 06:35:08 +0000
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