The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over a planbattle against the party by seeking to register three new parties that
bear the acronyms of the same parties that merged to become the APC.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those behind the
phantom parties, who are apparently working at the behest of people
who have a mortal fear of the APC, have applied to INEC to register
the Allied Council of Nigeria (ACN); Advanced National Patriotic Party
(ANPP) and Conservative People's Congress (CPC).
It said the fact that the acronyms of the three entities tally with
those of the APC component parties (ACN, ANPP and CPC) is not
accidental, but a grand design by those who have been having sleepless
nights since the APC was registered.
''It is worthy of note that the three applications to INEC for the
registration of the three organizations as political parties were made
on the same day. Apparently, common sense takes flight in the face of
great desperation!
''Their plan is simple: Once the parties are registered, they will
then apply to change their logos to those of the original ACN, ANPP
and CPC, and then hope to be on the ballot for next year's general
elections. Just before the elections, the sponsors of the phantom
parties will then send out messages saying the APC has splintered into
its component parties for the purpose of the election. Whatever
happens, their plan is to confuse the electorate and hamper the
electoral fortunes of the APC,'' the party said.
APC called on INEC not to succumb to the antics of those who are
planning to sabotage the 2015 general elections and win elections by
subterfuge.
''This acronym battle is a part of the larger war against our party to
prevent its registration. Nigerians will recollect that the same
people, apparently, applied to register a phantom APC the moment it
became clear that our merger would succeed and that INEC would
register our party, having met all the requirements to consummate the
merger.
''Thankfully, INEC refused to compromise its neutrality and integrity
and chose to act in accordance with the law by registering our party.
We urge the electoral body to do the same now, in the face of
unprecedented desperation by those who believe they can only win
elections by cutting corners,'' the party said.
It also called on Nigerians to be vigilant as the 2015 elections
approach, saying those who are now coming to terms with the reality
that the APC is a viable alternative in the country's political
firmament will stop at nothing to seek to mar the electoral fortunes
of the party.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Aug. 24th 2014
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said those behind the
phantom parties, who are apparently working at the behest of people
who have a mortal fear of the APC, have applied to INEC to register
the Allied Council of Nigeria (ACN); Advanced National Patriotic Party
(ANPP) and Conservative People's Congress (CPC).
It said the fact that the acronyms of the three entities tally with
those of the APC component parties (ACN, ANPP and CPC) is not
accidental, but a grand design by those who have been having sleepless
nights since the APC was registered.
''It is worthy of note that the three applications to INEC for the
registration of the three organizations as political parties were made
on the same day. Apparently, common sense takes flight in the face of
great desperation!
''Their plan is simple: Once the parties are registered, they will
then apply to change their logos to those of the original ACN, ANPP
and CPC, and then hope to be on the ballot for next year's general
elections. Just before the elections, the sponsors of the phantom
parties will then send out messages saying the APC has splintered into
its component parties for the purpose of the election. Whatever
happens, their plan is to confuse the electorate and hamper the
electoral fortunes of the APC,'' the party said.
APC called on INEC not to succumb to the antics of those who are
planning to sabotage the 2015 general elections and win elections by
subterfuge.
''This acronym battle is a part of the larger war against our party to
prevent its registration. Nigerians will recollect that the same
people, apparently, applied to register a phantom APC the moment it
became clear that our merger would succeed and that INEC would
register our party, having met all the requirements to consummate the
merger.
''Thankfully, INEC refused to compromise its neutrality and integrity
and chose to act in accordance with the law by registering our party.
We urge the electoral body to do the same now, in the face of
unprecedented desperation by those who believe they can only win
elections by cutting corners,'' the party said.
It also called on Nigerians to be vigilant as the 2015 elections
approach, saying those who are now coming to terms with the reality
that the APC is a viable alternative in the country's political
firmament will stop at nothing to seek to mar the electoral fortunes
of the party.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Lagos, Aug. 24th 2014