Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, the National Chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), says the party’s merger with other opposition political parties will enable it control more states in 2015.
Onu said this while delivering a speech during the party’s National Executive Committee meeting (NEC), on Saturday in Abuja.
“This merger has strengthened the hands of our governors and success in future elections can now be better guaranteed.”
He expressed optimism that if the party continued to take the interest of the nation into consideration “it stands excellent chance of forming government at all levels.’’
Onu said that the three major opposition political parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ANPP and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), had met all the conditions prescribed by law and contained in the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended for them to merge.
According to him, it is now left for the political parties involved to fulfil the conditions for the registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party.
The chairman urged all the party members concerned to continue to work until their aims and objectives were fully realised.
He reminded them that if APC was finally registered, a lot of work still needed to be done for the new party to grow and come out victorious in 2015.
“ Let no one ever think that it will be easy to defeat an incumbent government.
“It can be done; but a lot of hard work will be needed. Challenges will come, our patience will be tested, and our ability to persevere will also be tested.”
Onu also expressed confidence that with free and fair elections, APC would realise its goals of producing the next president of Nigeria.
“Serious efforts must be made to ensure that every vote counts and every voter matters.
“Every effort must be made to ensure that environment is made conducive created to ensure elections free and fair.”
He added that with a credible electoral process, “Nigeria will be stronger; the nation’s democracy will grow and pave way for the unity, peace and prosperity of our dear country.”
Onu attributed the success the party had achieved, so far to hard work, dedication and commitment by its members.
Sen. Bukar Abba, Alhaji Aliu Modu Sherif, Sen. Sanni Yerima, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, the party’s National women leader, Hajia Ramatu Aliyu, Gov. Kashim Shetima of Borno, among others attended the occasion.
Meanwhile, a release by signed Mr Emma Eneukwu, the National Publicity Secretary of the party said that the National Executive Committee of ANPP had resolved to set a new committee on merger talks.
The committee, he said would be headed by the National Chairman which includes former governors and serving governors of the party and will continue to act on behalf of the party in the merger negotiations until APC is registered.
He added that the committee would handle the sharing of the offices and positions allotted to ANPP under the merger arrangement.
He said the positions are the National Secretary, National Financial Secretary. Deputy National Organising Secretary, National, Welfare Secretary, Deputy Nat. Publicity Secretary, two Vice Chairmen and two Ex-officio members.
