Opposition Parties In Rivers Hail INEC Over APC

Opposition parties in Rivers State have welcomed the registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of All Progressive Congress (APC), saying that it will go a long way towards strengthening the country’s democracy.

The Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State who spoke in separate interviews commended the electoral body for the good job and assured that the move would enhance democracy and would give Nigerians opportunity to elect their leaders in the next general election in the country.

The Chairman of CPC, Hon Mike B. Nwielaghi  and that of ACN  Esuku M. Esuku said INEC had proven that they were patriotic and non partisan, adding that members of APC were determined to provide better alternative.

INEC had last Wednesday approved the application by three political parties to merge as the All Progressive Congress.

     The three Parties are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). Esuku described the registration of the All Progressive Congress  as a welcome development, adding that it will help develop the democracy of the country.     Nwieleghi of the CPC said the registration would now allow people to showcase and express their ideas, ideologies and political rights that would help the country grow politically.

The two Chairmen denied that the approval would  bring crisis over leadership, adding that before now, the national has stipulated method of sharing positions maintained which will also be maintained in the state.

It is not the name that matters, but the party and the interest of the country. Since the political parties have agreed to come together we have been seeing ourselves as one family and will use the same spirit to go in for the election and deliver the party at all levels, they said.

The statement issued by INEC after the approval of APC registration said the individual certificate of applicants would be withdrawn and a single certificate issued in the name of All Progressive Congress. The statement signed by the Secretary of INEC, Abdullah Kuagama said the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) could not join the merger due to the internal wranglings between two factions of the party.