ACN now APC - Last convention:
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Africcon Report: ACN now APC - Last convention:
Africcon New Media – News
From: Africcon Media - Nigeria
After months of deliberations over merger processes among some opposition parties, a new party was eventually born yesterday when the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), eventually adopted All Progressives Congress as its new name.
The change of name was effected at the national convention of the party that took place at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos where the motion for the change of name was moved, adopted and ratified by the 4, 761 registered delegates from across 36 states of the country and Abuja.
Moving the motion was the National Organising Secretary, Abubakar Inua Kari from Gombe State and seconded by Mrs. Tonia Anwam from Ebonyi State. Quoting relevant sections of the party’s constitution and Electoral Law, Kari moved the motion for: “Approval of merger with other political parties and groups. Approval of a new name, All Progressives Congress, with the acronym APC. (And) Approval of new constitution, manifesto, flag, logo and slogan, among others.”
After the ratification of the motion, the National Legal Adviser of the defunct ACN, Dr. Muiz Banire, who coordinated the exercise moved another motion for the adoption of the new name, logo, flag, constitution and slogan for the new party and his motion was seconded by Kenneth Ubani from Rivers State.
With all the legal rituals completed, the new party, APC was declared safely delivered. Speaking on the occasion, former Lagos State governor and the ACN National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said the situation in the country called for a rescue mission to prevent it from sinking, saying the way Nigeria was being governed called for a change.
He said the decision for a strong party was to put an end to national corrosion and corruption, insecurity and bad governance to bring about new dawn to Nigeria where prosperity, security, justice and equity would be the order of the day. While asking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to carry its bag and baggage and go, Tinubu said: “PDP will be in the opposition in 2015.”
He, therefore, pledged his dedication to the political collaboration with other like minds in the progressives’ camp by sacrificing “our former party to effect a positive change that will rescue Nigeria from PDP misrule.” In his welcome address, National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande described the event, as historic, saying, a new party that would change the face of politics in Nigeria had become fait accompli.
According to him, the decision for the new party was “borne out of a desire to provide an alternative platform for Nigerians,” assuring that the merger, unlike the past failed alliances would work. He regretted that over 13 years of PDP in the saddle had been of infamy, monumental corruption, disobedient to the rule of law and due process, saying Nigerians who had been waiting with bated breath would not be let down with the arrival of the new party.
Akande, therefore, urged all the stakeholders in the deal to “rise above pettiness and selfish interest to achieve the goal of the merger,” enthusing that “this last convention of the ACN is, however, the beginning of a journey to threshold of making history.” Other representatives of the political parties in the merger project who attended the ceremony also made remarks about the new development.
They included General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Chief John Oyegun and Chief Ogbonnaya Onu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Tom Ikimi, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief Achike Udenwa, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Prince Tony Momoh, Chief Audu Ogbe and Senator George Akume, among others.
Buhari, who said APC was planned as an alternative for Nigeria expressed the conviction that “any other alternative would be unthinkable,” urging the leaders to “mobilise our various constituencies to make it impossible for the PDP to rig 2015 election.” Ribadu, who called for a celebration was optimistic that “this journey will take us to Aso Rock, Abuja in 2015.”
State governors at the event, who also spoke were Rauf Aregesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo) and the host, Babatunde Raji Fashola. In his closing remarks, Fashola expressed the delight that the historic event that would give Nigerians credible alternative was taking place in his domain, urging those involved to sacrifice personal interest to make the project work.
