2019: APDA, N-ACD merge, become advanced Republicans

The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance has merged with the New African Democratic Congress to form the Advanced Republicans (AR) party - In the merger agreement, the parties resolved to adopt APDA’s constitution and manifesto for the new party - If elected into power, the AR plans to form a community government that would address issues of restructuring and empowering the states The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) and New African Democratic Congress (N-ADC), a splinter group from African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Saturday, August 11, announced their merger as the Advanced Republicans (AR) party. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the merger, which came three days after the formation of N-ADC, was the outcome of a meeting of executives of both parties late Friday night, August 10, ending at dawn on Saturday, in Abuja. READ ALSO: Bauchi by-election: Residents shun polling stations, head to farms NAIJ.com gathers that ADC members, who pulled out to form N-ADC, had explained that they did so because they did not want to be part of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and that ADC leadership signed onto the alliance without consulting stakeholders. The merger agreement was signed by the national chairman of APDA, Shittu Mohammed and N-ADC’s interim national chairman, Chief Precious Elekima, at the joint meeting. In the merger agreement, the parties resolved to adopt APDA’s constitution and manifesto for the new party, Advanced Republicans, until amended. They also agreed that the chairman of APDA would be the leader of the new party, while the chairman of the N-ADC would be his deputy. Mohammed disclosed that the merger was the coming together of like minds and forces to rescue Nigeria in the 2019 general elections. “For us in APDA, we believe that in order to take Nigerians out of the woods, forces of like minds must come together. “Ours is like minds, which have the same nationalistic ideology where Nigeria comes first – national interest before personal interest. “Our interest is to see Nigeria’s movement from nascent democracy to development democracy - democracy where we do not just talk about elections but about economic development, advancement in technology and welfare of Nigerians. “Our concern also includes creating employment opportunities for the people and taking government to the grassroots. “This is why today, you have the ‘marriage’ of N-ADC and APDA; both dissolving and fusing to work for the development of Nigeria. “This is how other parties like the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) started, and they got to the limelight. We believe that with this ‘marriage’ today, we are taking Nigeria to a great height,” he said. On his part, Elekima said the merger was between a political party with a strong base in the South and another that is strong in the Northern part of the country. “This will transform into capacity to win elections. This is what happened in 1914 when the North and the South came together to form one Nigeria. “Today, a Northern based party and a Southern based party have come together to make a national party; and that party will win elections. “We are happy to say that N-ADC and APDA have agreed, and our name will be Advanced Republicans. We have been able to fuse as one body and we will work together,” Ekelima said. He said that the merger decision had been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for regulations of APDA details, adding that “INEC has graciously agreed that APDA should be changed to AR”. Elekima said that AR, when finally regularised and elected into power, would form a community government that would address issues of restructuring and empowering the states. He said: “Our government is going to restore power to the states, where governors will no more act as treasurers to the states. “We are going to share the monies to various community governments so that development can happen simultaneously.” He expressed confidence that with the coming together of APDA and N-ADC and their structures across the country, victory is certain for AR in 2019. He explained that after regularizing issues with INEC, congresses and a national convention would be held to elect officers of the new party at all levels. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that barely three months after the fusion of the Coalition of Nigerian Movement (CNM) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), a faction pulled out on Tuesday, August 7, announcing itself as the New African Democratic Congress (N-ADC). Protem national chairman of the group, Precious Elekima, made the announcement at a news conference in Abuja. The CNM, founded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, had in May 2018, adopted the ADC as its political party. Election-2019: (Don't) mark your calendar - on NAIJ.com TV: Read more: https://www.naija.ng/1185774-2019-apda-n-acd-merge-advanced-republicans.html#1185774