Following allegations and denials over sponsorship and membership of the planned new mega party in Nigeria, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, and Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, report on the facts and the tales, the permutations and the forces behind the new move.
When the promoters of the planned new mega political party in Nigeria first conceived the idea in the first quarter of the year, the timeline was to launch it in November 2016. But the political intrigues in the country, especially the deepening crisis in the two leading political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), coupled with the delicate task of securing firm commitment of identified and targeted key politicians made the deadline unrealistic.
To worsen the situation, some of the leading strategists coordinating the project, who, according to an insider, were under pressure to perform, resolved to blow their trumpets by making public claims over membership of top politicians through the mass media. What followed were series of denials, a development that created doubts over the existence of an emerging mega party. But if the confusion has succeeded in creating doubts over the reality of the envisaged party, the plans took a more concrete shape last week and this week as the promoters embarked on nationwide meetings aimed at fine-tuning their plans before approaching the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a formal registration.
Some sources on Friday confirmed earlier reports that the leading promoters are actually billed to meet in Abuja tomorrow, Monday, December 19, to fine tune already agreed proposals, including the likely name to be submitted to INEC. It would be recalled that earlier meetings of the sponsors had recommended Action Democratic Party (ADP) as the likely name but some observers said the name may be either amended or changed.
There are also talks about the mega arrangement adopting the name of one of the already registered parties as a way of forestalling any attempt to prevent the arrangement from seeing the light of the day. Fears that the ruling party may work against the registration of the new party, according to inside sources, informed the consideration of adopting the identity of an existing party.
But it appears the idea of adopting the identity of an existing party is not popular among the leading lights of the mega arrangement. The Nation learnt that many of the promoters of the proposed party, especially chieftains of the PDP, are wary of surrendering their political sovereignty to any of the smaller parties being considered as option.
“Yes, there are various suggestions about what the name of the new party should be. We have about two proposed names being considered by the relevant committee. There are also suggestions that the mega arrangement should adopt the name of one of the already registered parties.
“But not all of us are comfortable with the suggestions so far and everything is still open to debate. I am sure that at the appropriate time, a decision would be taken concerning the name and identity of the mega party. When that is done, we will all be properly acquainted with the identity of the party, beyond speculations,” a source told The Nation.
Meanwhile, some reports had claimed that the hidden forces behind the new party included politicians described as “aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Ahmed Makarfi –led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
In fact, some of the reports alleged that former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Vice President of Nigeria and APC chieftain, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, were part of the new move. But Tinubu did not mince words when he denied the reports saying he would not abandon APC for any other party no matter the reason.
“This is a party I labored with others to build…We would not abandon it for another. Millions of Nigerians who voted are watching and praying,” he said on Twitter via his handle @AsiwajuTinubu. He had also said: “In our journey to national betterment, plans and policies will be made, then amended. Mistakes will occur and then corrected…
“Achievements will be had and replicated. Through it all, I, Asiwaju will remain true to the progressive ideals that fueled the creation of APC.
“I have devoted my political life to achieve what has been achieved. My heart is too much of the people and my mind too fixed on establishing positive historic legacy… rather than engage in destructive pettiness.
“This government, APC, is for the betterment of the people and the national purpose is bigger and more important than any individual’s desires.”
Atiku also denied involvement through his media aide, Paul Ibe. This denial notwithstanding, Atiku’s name has continued to feature as observers continue to link the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), as one of the primary political platform involved in the new move.
Even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in its reaction also denied being involved in the alleged moves to form a new mega party.
Chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin said they never thought of floating any new political party with Tinubu. “I salute Tinubu’s courage for coming out to speak frankly about his position regarding this unfounded rumour and for setting the record straight.
“In Tinubu’s own reaction denouncing the report, he condemned the PDP and I can’t understand why anybody would think that we are going to form a new party with somebody who is condemning us.
“The PDP is a golden name, a party formed by respectable and dignified Nigerians dead and alive, like Alex Ekwueme, Jerry Gana, Solomon Lar, Adamu Ciroma, Aminu Wali, Sule Lamido and many others.
“It is, therefore, ridiculous to think that anyone would abandon a well organised party like the PDP and join another party. There is nothing wrong with the PDP, except for some characters within the party,” Jibrin said.
The permutations
Believed to be the thinking of the prime movers of the new mega party is the fact that by next year, the struggle for the 2019 presidential contest will begin in earnest and alignments and realignment will commence. It is believed that the promoters of the new party hope to benefit from expected dissatisfaction from the various political families currently existing.
Sources within the camps currently working towards the formation of the proposed mega party said some specific states are being seen as likely to fall into the kitty of the new party once it is formed. Such states, The Nation learnt, include the states currently controlled by governors loyal to Ahmed Makarfi’s faction of the PDP like Enugu, Ekiti, Abia, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Delta, Gombe, and Taraba.
Aside these PDP states, there are also expectations that the new mega party will benefit from perceived wrangling within the ruling party when eventually formed. Sources said despite denials by leading chieftains of the APC, including Asiwaju Tinubu and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who said they have nothing to do with the formation of a new party, the promoters of the new party are hopeful that if these political leaders have any reason to leave the ruling party, they would be welcomed in the mega party.
Should this happen, the mega party, according to the permutations of its promoters, may also find some current APC states being handed over to it by defecting APC leaders. Such states, the new mega party initiators hope, will include Adamawa, Kogi, Lagos, Osun, Oyo and Benue. The permutation, according to an insider, is because they believe these states are in the strong political grips of leaders “currently victimized by the leadership of the ruling party.”
The Nation however learnt that denials of the mega party arrangement by Tinubu and Atiku may have scuttled earlier plans to unveil the alliance before the year runs out. According to reliable sources, the promoters of the party, though with plan to officially go public with its name and membership next year, had earlier planned to introduce the people behind the alliance and some few details in a matter of weeks.
“But Tinubu and Atiku’s rebuttal of their involvement really shocked the team so much that they had to shelve all plans to go public this year. There is need to restrategize and renegotiate with all stakeholders. What we intend to give to Nigerians is a broad based party that will take over the governments at the centre and in most states,” a source said.
Tinubu, while apparently reacting to speculations that he and other APC leaders were working with a faction of the PDP to float a mega party said he would not abandon the governing party, which he laboured to build irrespective of the mistakes that had been made. According to him, the “national purpose of APC is bigger than the desire of any individual.”
The matter is worsened by the reported reaction of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the alleged membership of Alhaji Atiku. Obasanjo was quoted as insisting he will only support the new party if Atiku is not given the party’s presidential ticket. This condition,” according to a source “must be treated with tact and caution. So, we need more time to plan,” the source said.
The chieftains
Just as the alliance is seeking states to hijack, the promoters of the mega party are also taking stock of the prominent politicians they intend to get within their dragnet. Sources said many politicians who appear to have lost out in the political machinations that preceded the 2015 general election, as well as those who got shoved out of reckoning by the results of the elections, are on the radar of the mega party.
Across the states of the country, the contact and mobilization committee of the new party has been tasked to reach out to prominent politicians who have been on the sideline watching for one reason or the other.
One of such prominent politicians already being lured by the group is former President Goodluck Jonathan, who, is disturbed by the lingering crisis that rocked the PDP after he lost the presidential election to President Buhari last year. An inside source said he seems disposed to the idea of a mega party and may even try to relaunch himself politically on its platform.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and his counterpart in Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, are two other persons the coalition is also keen on keeping within its fold. Although both are loyal to the Makarfi faction of the PDP, there are fears they may not want to be in the same political boat with certain people being touted to be part of the alliance. “Efforts are on to keep the duo within the new arrangement because they are needed to make way for the new party in the South-West,” a source said.
Other prominent politicians currently being sought by the mega party promoters, according to our investigation include Chief Chekwas Okorie, a former presidential candidate and founding National Chairman of APGA, former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, former Governor Boni Haruna, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, and a host of other names already penciled down by the contact and mobilization committee.
The Nation also learnt that a committee saddled with the task of bringing the leaderships of frontline socio-political organisations across the country closer to the mega party alliance, is already in talks with Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF). Inside sources said the committee is also talking to some civil society organisations across the country as part of efforts to spread its tentacles.
