When APDA caused a stir in PDP
The emergence of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) and four others into the nation’s political landscape, has not only stirred controversy, it has also raised the political tempo as to the drive and emerging intrigues ahead of the 2019 gener
In his message to mark his two years in office as national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Victor Oye, last Wednesday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to register the All Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) as a political party. APDA is one of the 95 political associations that had applied to INEC for registration but only five scaled the hurdle so far.
Oye, who was inaugurated as National Chairman of APGA, on June 6, 2015, said his call was predicated on the fact that the acronym ‘APDA’ shared similarity with ‘APGA’ and therefore the new party, will confuse party followers if registered.
“Therefore, INEC should not register the new party in view of our formal protest and should do something urgently to avert the impending confusion,” Oye reportedly said.
To the chagrin of Oye, however, the management of INEC had concluded a two day workshop in Kaduna to review its communication policy that same Wednesday, and eventually announced the registration of five new political parties, including APDA, after a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
The other political parties that met INEC’s registration requirement along APDA are: the Young Progressive Party (YPP), New Generation Party of Nigeria (NGP), All Democratic Peoples Movement (ADPM) and the Action Democratic Party (ADP). Suffice it to say that with the registration of the new parties, there are now 45 political parties in Nigeria.
Although the registration of the new political parties may have come as cheering news to their sponsors, the journey towards the birth of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), which climaxed into its recent unveiling and eventual formation, has particularly drawn curiosity among keen political watchers.
Earlier this year, the crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had taken a new twist as some top members of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi faction were said to have applied to INEC to register an alternative platform to be known as the Advanced Peoples Democratic Party (APDP).
The aggrieved PDP members were said to have approached INEC with an application shortly after the judgment of the Port Harcourt High Court, which sacked the Makarfi led caretaker committee in favour of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff ’s faction of the party.
But INEC, which had no fewer than 50 applications from various interest groups seeking registration as political parties, at that time, was not disposed to the registration of APDP on the grounds that it would be wrong for the commission to register a party with similar name with the PDP.
Consequently, INEC was said to have rejected the application and requested the applicants to apply with a new name in place of APDP. The commission later accepted the application and commenced the process of registration when the sponsors adopted the new name of APDA (Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance).
Many, therefore, see APDA as a reincarnation of the APDP, whose application was earlier rejected due to semblance of identity with the crisis-ridden PDP.
Indeed, the nation’s political atmosphere has not remained the same since the unveiling of APDA, which analysts say presents hope for many Nigerians, including those disenchanted with the prevailing leadership tussle in the PDP.
Watchers of political events believe that the new party, if well nurtured, would take over the position of the PDP and become a force to reckon with in 2019.
Touted to be an off-shoot and plan ‘B’ for the Senator Makarfi-led National caretaker committee of the PDP, in the event it fails to secure victory at the Supreme Court, the registration of APDA has, no doubt, marked another milestone signaling the possibility of a highly and robustly contested poll in 2019.
The Makarfi committee has consistently accused the Sheriff of “cordially” working with some elements in the ruling APC to get the judgment in their favour.
Although the spokesman of the Makarfi faction refuted claims that APDA was an offshoot of the PDP or its option ‘B’ in a statement shortly after the launch, there was a measure of curiosity when an active chieftain of the PDP and broadcast mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesiý, attended the unveiling of the APDA at Reitz Continental in Abuja.
Dokpesi is an ardent supporter of the Senator Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, and was part of the forces against the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP national chairman.
Reliable sources in the PDP say Dokpesi was clearing the coast for many aggrieved chieftains of the PDP and other parties to finally jump ship to the new party.
Also at the event was a former chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barr Dan Nwanyawu, who had remained silent since he left the LP.
The media mogul is yet to officially announce his exit from the PDP.
APDA’s Interim National Chairman, Malam Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, however, said the PDP members present at the occasion did that for solidarity purpose.
“The PDP members you sighted here are in solidarity with us. Our short time plan is to sanitize the electoral system. Our long term plan is to win elections; get into government and put our economy on the right path,” he said.
The unveiling and presentation of the party’s flag to the interim chairmen of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was done by Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu.
Other dignitaries at the event were the deputy national chairman of the party (South), Fijabi Adebo and Deputy National Chairman (North), Dr. Mahe Dange.
A reliable source within the party told our correspondent that APDA is just one of the options that the Makarfi group is considering, adding that the group was weighing so many options.
“Look, the NCC recently directed its members in states to look for alternative platforms to participate in pending local government elections. They were not specific as to the political party these people should contest on. APDA is just one of the options. Some may identify with it while others will identify with other parties of their choices.
“But, it’s the decision of the Supreme Court that will determine the appropriate direction,” he said.
Another source close to the APDA national chairman and the PDP said, “The APDA members are mostly PDP but they will continue to deny until after the Supreme Court judgment. They are mostly high ranking PDP members; that I can tell you on authority.”
The source, who wouldn’t want his name in print, said while Dokpesi attended the event, many others were in their homes watching the programme live, in order not to be seen to be members of the new party.
The Spokesman of the PDP caretaker, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement recently gave a veiled order saying, “We are left with no choice than to consider ways by which our members will not be disenfranchised in these elections (LG polls). State chapters are allowed to take any decision they consider appropriate. However, our position is not to choose a platform for any state where true PDP candidates are denied the opportunity to stand for the elections.
Also, chairman of the PDP’s Strategy and Inter-Party Affairs Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, announced recently in Abuja that the PDP was in talks with 15 political parties including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Labour Party (LP).
The APDA interim national chairman, Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, in his remark, at the occasion bashed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it and other political parties with elective officers of betraying the popular mandate given them by Nigerians.
He said that the party was planning to challenge the APC in 2019 in order to take over power and address the fundamental issues bedeviling the nation, adding that because of bad governance by former and present ruling parties, the nation has been stagnated with the economy in bad shape.
He announced that the party had resolved to allot 25 percent elective slots to the youths, 5 percent to the physically challenged and 30 percent to women in the 2019 general elections.
He said the APDA placed premium on registration and payment of dues in order to get money to fund its activities, stressing that party leaders would not allow money bags to hijack it. “Our gathering here is constitutionally backed. Our convention will come up between now and November. ýWe must have inter-relationship with other parties but we are not funded by the PDP,” he said.
Former national chairman of Labour Party (LP), Barr Dan Nwanyanwu, while unveiling the party said they were determined to present to Nigerians a political party that would be highly disciplined, provide the level playing field to all its members, remove every trace of god-fatherism and restore the dignity and supremacy of the party politics.
“Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) is a convergence of patriotic citizens who are committed to the indivisibility and corporate existence of Nigeria and who are determined to enrich true federalism, social inclusion, national cohesion and public trust in governance.
“APDA stands for social democracy with efficient and sustainable sector services delivered as its primary focus. We are the first political party to introduce bio-metric membership card, and electronic voting for all our elective positions. This means that it will be impossible to impose any person who is not the choice of the members.
“This means that it will be impossible to rig as results of all elections in the party will be transmitted real time at all levels of the party and across the party simultaneously. What this implies is that every paying member of the party who has a biometric card is a delegate in all elections and does not need to travel out of location to vote.
“The era of fake, non-party, hired or paid delegates cannot by this system be in any way part of APDA. It is important to emphasize that this is constitutional and not a convention in the party,” he said.
With the emergence of new political parties, particularly the controversial APDA, many analysts and pundits say the countdown to the 2019 elections would certainly be interesting.