Our attention has been drawn to a press conference by a group of ten (10) Governors,including Owelle Rochas Okorocha of Imo State after meeting in Lagos endorsing a “merger of some opposition Parties in Nigeria”. While we are not against the establishment of a mega opposition party, we believe that the issue of merger of political parties is a very serious matter that needs adequate consultations before a Governor participates and makes public statement. We wish to state after due consultations with most party members, including the following:-
1.His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi, CON- Governor, Anambra State
2.Senator Chris Anyanwu- Senator representing Imo Central
3.Her Excellency, Bianca Ojukwu, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain
4.Hon. Eddie Mbadiwe- APGA Leader, House of Reps (Imo State)
5.Hon. Chris Azubogu – House of Reps member, Anambra State
6.Hon. Emeke Nwogbo – House of Reps Member, Anambra State
Hon. Victor Ogene- House of Reps Member, Anambra State
7.Chief Chris Uche – APGA Deputy National Chairman, South- East
8.His Execellency, Odi Nwosu, Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi
9.Ambassador Frank Nchita Ogbuewu- 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate, Ebonyi State and Former Minister of Culture and Tourism
10.Chief Reagam Ufomba – 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate, Abia State
11.Barr. Obiora Obiegue- 2011 APGA Governorship Candidate, Enugu State
12.Prof. Dora Akunyili – 2011 APGA Senatorial Candidate, Anambra Central, Former Minister of Information and Communications,
13.Hon. Chuma Nzeribe – Former House of Reps member, APGA Senatorial Candidate, Anambra South,
that we were never invited, consulted or informed about any political parties merger.
We wish to make it clear that WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE FORMATION OF ANY MEGA OPPOSITION PARTY, but we categorically state that All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has never participated in any merger talk with any political party and is therefore not in the merger. We were never consulted by anybody before such statement of our involvement was issued.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Party was held in July, 2012 and various stakeholders’ meetings have equally been held in the last one year. In all these meetings, the issue of merger with other political parties was never discussed. For one of our Governors to participate in a meeting where the merger of opposition parties was endorsed is ridiculous and unfortunate.
The merger of political parties, where the parties are expected to lose their identities, cannot be an ad hoc arrangement or a decision of one person. According to our constitution, the decision to initiate such discussion is vested in the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party and shall be ratified by the National Convention. It is not an executive action, but purely a party matter. Even Section 84(3) of Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), expects that such action must come through a special resolution passed by the National Convention of each of the political parties proposing the merger and the written resolutions of each of these parties communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through a letter jointly signed by the National Chairman, National Secretary and the National Treasurer of each of the merging parties.
For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate that the issue of merger with other political parties is not on the agenda of All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA for now. Our concern at the moment is to restructure, nurture and build a strong APGA capable of winning elections across the states of Nigeria. Our doors are wide open, and currently there is a mass influx of people into our Party.
We call on all party members and the general public to disregard the misleading inclusion of our party in the on-going merger talk of opposition parties. It is not on the agenda of the party for now.
APGA!!! Be Your Brother’s Keeper!!!
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Signed: Dr Tim Menakaya, APGA BOT Member
