A chieftain of the newly registered All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has joined other Nigerians in expressing happiness over the emergence of the mega opposition party, even as he charged members of the party to strive harder for the ultimate goal of dislodging the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ribadu, in a statement in Abuja, congratulated key players in the merged parties “for shoving their personal interests in order to allow for mutation of a pan-Nigerian party that can provide credible alternative to the ruling party”.
The statement, issued by Ribadu’s media aide, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, quoted the 2011 presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), expressing hope that the new party would have sweeping victory comes the next general election.
“Like millions of Nigerians from all over the country, I am immensely delighted
over the successful registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent n National Electoral Commission (INEC),” Ribadu said.
According to him, the registration of the party by the electoral body “is not the end. It is the beginning of the end of misrule and cluelessness” as he called for renewed zeal and commitment by members of the party to achieve the desired objective.
He called on Nigerians to resist manipulations of the electoral process either through whipping up religious or sectional sentiments or by the use of money, maintaining that 2015 elections would be a major litmus test for the opposition and all progressive Nigerians.
Meanwhile,Comrade Mashood Erubami ,national president &convener, Nigeria Voters Assembly (VOTAS) said
the registration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is a welcome development coming at a time when Nigerians are boasting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is living up to the expectation of all and sundry. “ The registration will no doubt fill the wide gap left open by the absence of a strong, competent, better and non-tribal opposition party to serve as an alternative platform for qualitative change and the correction of all malaise which have been undermining internal democracy, and posing serious threat to peaceful democratic transition in the country,” Erubami said
According to him, “The existence of a virile opposition working with a truly Independent Electoral Commission like INEC no doubt will end the era of electoral impunity, help recruit courageous, credible and legitimate leaders who possess the capacity to run a government that will correct the anomalies in the economy, redefine the state of the Nation, engage the hands of million youths through revolutionary transformation of the rural environment, and ultimately entrench hope for welfare and security among the people.”
Erubami also said , “INEC was no doubt rightly guided by the constitution and the Electoral Act in considering the registration of APC having submitted the require documentations and met all conditions for registration. This has reconfirmed INECs credible rating of a truly Independent Election Management body.
“In the final analysis, INEC has by its action renewed trust and will continue to enjoy the confidence of the people, by refusing to collaborate with evil forces of selfish political hawks by demonstrating untainted integrity and non-compromised independence that would move Nigeria positively forward towards 2015”,he said.
