Lawyers, politicians and public commentators yesterday praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registering the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, said they were delighted the APC got registered.
Fayemi, in a statement yesterday, congratulated the founding fathers and the team that worked to ensure that the new party scaled the hurdle.
He said Nigerians should look forward to better days ahead, nothing that the era of clueless governance at the centre would soon be over in the country.
Fayemi said APC would provide true democracy where every Nigerian would have a clear choice to elect leaders that are accountable and responsive to their yearnings.
Fayemi described the emergence of APC as a new ray of hope to the common man, adding that the progressives and the real democrats would ensure that democracy makes a headway in the country, adding that never again would the will of a cabal subvert the common desire of the common man.
Fashola, in a statement, said: “I felicitate with all lovers of democracy on this milestone registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is not just a merger. It is history. The first merger in Nigeria. I am proud to have been a part of it. A real choice now emerges for the people of Nigeria.”
The Southeast Deputy Chairman of the APC, Senator Annie Okonkwo, said INEC’s registration of APC has shown that democracy is working and the constitution is supreme to any individual or group interests.
Okonkwo said: “INEC should demonstrate that it is working within the ambit of the law by conducting free and fair election in the coming years. Through popular elections, corrupt politicians will not find their ways into governance and that will reduce corruption in the country.”
He advised the electoral umpire to remain upright as Nigerians and the world would be watching its activities.
“It should not allow any interest to use it. INEC should serve the people of the country not party interest. The registration of APC shows that it is willing to remain upright and do what Nigerians expect from it.”
A Professor of Constitutional Law, Prof Itse Sagay (SAN), said the registration of the party was not a surprise because the sponsors had met all requirements for merger.
Sagay said the three political parties involved held separate conventions and dissolved into the APC.
He said: “I am delighted that APC has been registered as a political party in spite of a contraption hurriedly put in place by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to scuttle the efforts of the three political parties that had earlier announced the formation of APC. It is a great thing that has happened at this time when Nigeria is at a crossroads.
“I congratulate INEC for being firm on this matter. It has proved to be independent. We look forward for more actions from them to prove it’s a neutral body.”
A former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col Abubakar Umar (rtd), said the registration of the APC has proved wrong those thinking INEC was up to mischief as a result of the delay.
Umar said with the registration of APC, Nigeria can now boast of two major parties because APC and PDP, according to him, are at par.
He said: “APC is a big party. They have many serious people in their fold. If they allow internal democracy to reign, they will achieve a lot. They should avoid too much expectation which if not met could lead to serious consequence.”
Former Governor of Edo State Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and former Minister of Police Affairs Dr Ibrahim Lame applauded the registration of the APC, which Oyegun described as a “fantastic news”. Lame called it a “fundamental development”.
Lame said: “We have succeeded in our merger, and Nigeria is going to have it better now. APC will now face the transformation of the country and see how to move it forward. APC cannot afford to fail, it will endeavour to do the right thing. It will be built on democratic tenets, integrity and moving Nigeria forward. The politics or rigging, of opportunism, of ethnicity must not come into APC. It will be a party of progress and party of capacity and competence.”
Oyegun added that “We had no doubt that it would be registered because every time we were negotiating and preparing, we had the law in front of us to meet the requirements of the law. We have completed phase one, the next is to present ourselves to the Nigerian people very soon. We congratulate ourselves”.
The Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos) described the registration of APC as the best thing that can happen to the nation’s democracy.
Also, Deputy Minority Leader Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (ANPP, Kano), praised INEC for living up to expectations.
Speaking with the The Nation yesterday in Abuja, Gbajabiamila said: “Whatever indices you might want to use, it is crystal clear that the PDP has failed Nigerians. The coming of APC is to pave the way for a new dawn.”
Sumaila said Nigerians would heave a sigh of relief.
He said: “With the coming of the APC, the days of the ruling monster, PDP are numbered. Nigerians can now heave a sigh of relief in since the APC is here to salvage Nigeria and Nigerians come 2015.”
The Convener of Coalition of Democrats for Election Reforms (CODER), Ayo Opadokun, said the emergence of the party would reshape the political set up.
Opadokun said: “The registration of APC is a phenomena opportunity to reconfigure the Nigeria political polity having regard to the characterisation of the elements who spearheaded the formation of APC.
“I am tempted to imagine that the Nigerian electorate would totally capture this unique opportunity to elect credible and expressive personalities that have made claim to better performances in the past.
“Nigerians cannot afford the current situation where Nigeria spends 72-78 per cent of her total income to run political bureaucracy. Nigeria should make a choice between the unproductive element in the highest political offices in the country and those who have championed productive governance in the land.
“The situation we have today where our social services have deteriorated beyond tolerance, our basic infrastructure have decayed and are dehumanising; we cannot further place our fortunes in the hands of wrongly headed people.
“The registration of APC suggests to me that the remaining progressive elements in the land commit themselves towards productive governance, establishment and nurturing of democracy and democratisation generally, the chances are Nigeria can have a breathing space to re-organise its national profile within the comity of nations.
“The event of this registration is not a child play. It is a call to action on the leadership of APC. Nigerians have been for a long time traumatised and they deserve a befitting set of performing political leaders for now.”
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji commended the leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria People’s Party(ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) for forming the APC.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, Ikuforiji said: “ As the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) formally registers our party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), I, on behalf of all my fellow legislators in the Lagos Assembly send our warm congratulations to all the visionary leaders of all the merged political parties, who came together to make this dream a reality.”
“It is highly patriotic and most commendable for the likes of our indefatigable leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, and all the other notable leaders of the merged political parties like Owelle Rochas Okorocha to have put the national interest above their personal interest in their bid to ensure the formal registration of the new party without delay.”
He praised INEC Chair Prof. Attahiru Jega for the prompt registration of the party.
He added: “ I equally must thank all our people, particularly Lagosians, who have always massively supported our progressive governments in Lagos State since 1999, when we all embraced the Alliance of Democracy, and later the ACN, under our leader and former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and incumbent Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).
“I urge all our people and all progressive-minded Nigerians in every part of our country to massively support our new party in order to enjoy the real dividends of democracy that would be put in place for all Nigerians when the APC wins and forms the government at all levels come 2015.”
The governorship candidate of the defunct ACN in Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), said the news of APC’s registration after several months of apprehension and suspicion was soothing
Akeredolu said: “Amidst the continual socio-political occurrences of disquieting proportions this singular adherence to constitutional provision by INEC is capable of deepening our democratic experiment in spite of its progression in fits and starts.
“The easy charge of dictatorial tendencies, liberally levelled by members of the ruling party and direct beneficiaries of bad governance against the notable leaders of these erstwhile political parties, a lie espoused by the unwary, is now buried in the ashes of trepidation and anxiety on the part of visionless politicians.
“I congratulate all party leaders who made enormous sacrifices to make this dream a reality. I felicitate with all members of the party in the country, especially in my dear Ondo State, on this milestone. I seize this opportunity to admonish all our members to remain steadfast and be focused.
“Our people need us, more than ever before, to free them from the shackles of oppression and impunity. We cannot afford to rest until the final victory is won.”
Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ajibayo Adeyeye, said the registration of the APC was a sign of better things to come.
Adeyeye spoke in an interview with The Nation at the Assembly complex yesterday.
He said: “It is a welcome development and I am happy about it. It is a sign of a better thing to come for Nigeria. It is a sign that very soon we will have a good change at the center.
“You should expect that with the registration of APC, Nigerians are bound to now breathe an air of freedom, an air of development in our country, an air of a people-oriented party and people-centred party taking the reign of power. I have no doubt in my mind that come 2015, leadership at the centre will change. APC will take over and Nigeria will be better for it.”
An interim member of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Miriki Ebikibina, yesterday described the new party as a credible alternative for Nigerians.
Ebikibina, who was the National Youth Leader of the ACN said: “APC has been registered despite daunting challenges placed on the wheels of its progress. This is the first ever true merger of parties in Nigeria. This is historic and we are happy.”
He said as democrats, leaders of APC would ensure that democracy “is protected and deepened in the country”.
He added that the development was a demonstration that APC was strong and was not dead on arrival as some persons claimed.
“Nigerians should freely identify with APC. We commend the leaders for the commitment and sacrifices towards ensuring that this historical merging was a success and we also commend INEC for complying with due process.”
The lawmaker representing Oredo Federal Constituency, Razaq Bello-Osagie, praised leaders of APC for their commitment to ensuring the registration of the party
Razaq, in a statement in Benin City, said the APC leaders have created a platform that would provide an alternative government come 2015.
He said: “The process to greatness has commenced. I look forward to a new Nigeria.”
