The newly formed association, Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance, with arrow heads, Dan Iwuanynwu and media entrepreneur, Raymond Dokpesi are among
The newly formed association, Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance, with arrow heads, Dan Iwuanynwu and media entrepreneur, Raymond Dokpesi are among the five newly registered political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The newly formed association was registered despite calls from several quarters for INEC not to register it as a political party. No sooner had APDA was formed, than the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) called on INEC not to register All Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), saying that the acronym of the new group, shared similarity with APGA and would confuse party followers during elections if registered.
Also the Alliance for Democracy (AD) equally urged INEC not to register the newly launched APDA over claims that the Party unduly appropriated its logo which has been in existence since 1998.
95 associations had applied to the commission for registration as political parties however, two of the political associations voluntarily withdrew their applications. The five successful parties are Young Progressive Party, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, New Generation Party of Nigeria, All Democratic People‘s Movement and Action Democratic Party. With the registration of the new parties, there are now 45 political parties in Nigeria.
In its reaction, APDA, in a statement by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Asandian Hogan, said the party was determined to redefine partisan politics and political administration in the country.
“We have a social contract with Nigerians and this is driven by a deliberate, conscious and patriotic conviction that the time has come for us to institute a national political platform that will accommodate all of us as we strive to meet our individual and collective dreams and aspirations,” the statement said.
The statement added that it was an indisputable fact that the government of the day had failed the people, alleging that hunger and poverty were ravaging the land and there was no hope for a better tomorrow under the present order.
It said, “Much more regrettable is the fact that there is no viable opposition in the land to put the failing government on its toes. A situation like this call for redress and APDA is offering itself to undertake this rescue mission.
“To achieve our broad goals and objectives, we have put together a holistic manifesto which will be the basis of our social contract with the Nigerian people.”
