Will it work this Time? APGA to JOIN CPC + ACN Coallition

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the North-West zone has declared its readiness to join the proposed merger of the  Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) so as to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).  

The National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, told newsmen in Kaduna at the end of an emergency meeting of APGA's National Working Committee from the Northern States and FCT on Thursday that as progressives, they would accept the invitation to be part of a coalition of parties that would take Nigeria to greater heights.

The meeting, which was attended by members of APGA and state chairmen from the 19 Northern States and Abuja, discussed the state of affairs of the party and reviewed current national issues as they affect members and the country.

Alhaji Shinkafi said: “The officers hailed the dogged and resilient defence of the party in all the various litigations instituted against the party by the former chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, and expressed happiness that the present leadership won in all the litigations, including at the Supreme Court, paving the way for Chief Okorie’s final exit from the party.  

“They commended the national leadership of the party for successfully challenging the attempted cloning of the party by the former chairman when he tried to register United Grand Alliance (UPGA).

“They also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for rejecting the registration of UPGA as it would have created confusion among the electorate.”    

“They expressed shock that a purported South-East Stakeholders Meeting of our party called outside the provisions of the constitution of APGA purportedly issued directives to the national executive committee of the party. The manner of that action tried to portray APGA as a South- East party rather than the national party that it is. We condemn that action and advise that decisions for the party should be made by the organs of the party recognised by the party’s constitution.”

THE All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday denied that it was holding talks aimed at alliance/merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) or any other party.

Rising from a South-East stakeholders’ meeting held at the Enugu residence of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the party noted that though “we are not averse to working with other political parties or making policy statements, but that it must be done in consultation with relevant stakeholders and in the interest of the party.”

The party distanced itself from recent statements and interviews by Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and Gbenga Afeni in some newspapers, saying that they do not represent the views of APGA even as it condemned the utterances unequivocally.

In a six-point communiqué read by the Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Dr. Tim Menakaya, APGA urged all members to continue to work together for the unity and progress of the party and the country at large.