Peoples Democratic Party chieftains have set plan in motion to
dissolve the party and merge with other parties with “similar
ideology” to form a stronger and fresher coalition after the handover of
power on May 29.
The PDP, which has ruled Nigeria since 1999, lost the March 28
presidential election to the opposition All Progressives Congress. The party also lost its majority position in the two houses of the
National Assembly, as well as governorship elections in many states
especially in the north where it could only retain Gombe and Taraba
states.
The party’s victory in Rivers and Akwa Ibom state is also being
threatened by a strong set of evidence of rigging in the April 11
governorship election in the two states. Investigations revealed that Governors Sule Lamido,
Godswill Akpabio, Muazu Aliyu and a few other governors are pushing
towards forming an alliance with other parties.
PDP chieftains, such former defence chief, Theophilus
Danjuma, former finance minister, Adamu Ciroma, and others, are in the
lead.
A source informed revealed that the
PDP is planning to merge with the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Labour
Party, Kowa, Hope Party and others to form a mega opposition party to
challenge the APC.
“There will be a special convention after the handover on May 29 where a formal merger process will start,” he said
“You are right,” Mr. Ebije said. “There are moves going on along this
direction and the plan is to transform the party into a very formidable
opposition. Many individuals and of course political parties of like
minds would be invited to be on board.”
He also said Governors Lamido and Aliyu decided to stay in the PDP as a matter of principle.
“They cannot leave a house they built to tenants to take over,” he said.
Mr. Ebije said the plan for a new, stronger party may not come as soon as power is handed over.
“The PDP convention will take place on May 15, 2016 and the plan is
to take over the leadership with people who can deliver,” he said.
He also said that those pushing for the agenda have concluded that
the word PDP has become toxic to Nigerians and that it will be
counterproductive to continue to use it as a viable opposition party.
“PDP may go and a new party may emerge, that is the way to go,” he said.
Our source added that the new party would engage in aggressive
membership drive as soon as it comes on board. He said the new party
will monitor events in the APC and is hoping that after the President
elect, Muhammadu Buhari, forms his cabinet, a few people who have no
place will feel disappointed and would join the opposition.
The APC was formed through the merger of three main opposition
parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party,
and the Congress for Progressive Change, as well as a faction of APGA in
2013.
The formation of the APC brought about a strong challenge to the PDP,
which had been in power since the return to democratic rule in 1998. The new party’s efforts were helped by the defection of five
governors and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the PDP after
they staged a walkout at the national convention of the party in Abuja
in 2013.
Speaking on Saturday, our source said the new party, when formed,
also plans to court as many retired Nigerians as possible, particularly
those seen as “apolitical”, to swell its ranks and put it on a strong
pedestal to challenge the APC.
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