Leaders of 23 political parties, including the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) have met in the federal capital; Abuja in a fresh bid to form a broad-based party that could upstage the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next general election.
This is coming on the heels of the recent consultations embarked on by the immediate governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai with some influential politicians and parties, ostensibly to form a mega party.
It would be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo had galvanised support for the ADC to become the third force at the dawn of the 2019 general election, which the Labour Party succeeded in occupying following its relatively good performance in the 2023 elections.
The national chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, who confirmed the latest efforts by 23 opposition parties to arrive at a consensus on a mega party, said their leaders have been meeting to arrive at a consensus.
He said other stakeholders of the parties, including members of National Working Committee (NWC) and the Board of Trustees (BOT) as well as other leaders of the parties were at one of such “well attended meeting.”
He explained that the initiative followed the downward slide in the scheme of things under the present federal administration.
Nwosu disclosed that a tactical committee had been set by the promoters of the proposed mega party to consult far and wide on how to bring more influential politicians into the fold.
He accused the Tinubu administration of lacking clear ideas of how to move the country forward, as well as paying lip service to the welfare of the citizens.
“The state of the nation is nothing to talk about. It is saddening and arouses morbid fear. Therefore, instead of wasting our time engaging in futile debates with those in government, we should continue to strategise on ways to develop a new political system and come together to create a collaborative, value-driven ecosystem that prioritizes our people and country.
“We certainly need a new beginning. Pointing fingers of recrimination is not what transformational leaders do,” he said, adding that 22 political parties have joined hands with the ADC to build a new mega party.
Emphasising that the doors of the merging parties remained open, Nwosu, however, added that the new platform would welcome all well-meaning patriots into its midst.
“We have resolved to work with all political leaders across that appreciate the need for coming together for a new Nigeria.
“We discriminate against none; our commitment is a new Nigeria that will lead our dear Continent out of its present abyss.
In the meantime, some chieftains of the PDP are predicting a stormy session at the April 18 National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party in Abuja.
Two elders of the party, who craved anonymity while speaking to the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, said the various tendencies that polarized the party before the last general election appeared not ready for compromise on the way forward for PDP.
