PPP, other parties plot to wrest power from APC

The Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday disclosed it is in talks with other like-minded political parties to wrest power from the ruling APC in 2019.
The national chairman of the PPP, Mr Damian Ogbonna, said in Lagos that collaboration was necessary because no single party could singularly dethrone an incumbent government from power.
Ogbonna, therefore, asserted that collaboration with some political parties through alliance could lead to the emergence of a large party with combined structures and clout to “fight the upcoming electoral corruption”, meaningfully.
“Peoples Progressive Party is gearing up to participate fully in the upcoming general election. As part of this effort, we have concluded an internal party re-organisation to ensure that we are structured to campaign in the plurality of states and local government areas in the country.
“We are also consulting with like-minded parties to partner with the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and PPP-led Credible Alternation Alliance (CAA) in our efforts to strengthen the political opposition.
“You will recall that CAA is a coalition of 13 political parties formed in the months leading to the 2015 general elections. We believe that a robust and purposeful collaboration among political parties is necessary to counter the propensity of APC to return itself to power.
“To salvage our country, CAA and other political parties must find a way to work together to stop the hemorrhage. Failure to do this will sacrifice this single last opportunity to reclaim and rebuild the nation,’’ he said.
Further, he appealed to INEC to work towards holding a credible general election in 2019, and suggested that the commission should undertake major reforms to reposition itself ahead of the general elections.
Ogbonna said voter education was necessary to forestall easy manipulation which argued was because voter registration was still rudimentary and haphazardly done.
“Continual full registration of previously registered voters creates circumstances that belie confidence in the voters’ register.
“Overwhelming plurality of INEC’s commissioners are mostly covert members or sympathizers of the government and party in power.
“Therefore, there is the need to reform INEC in ways that will gender confidence in the composition of the commission,’’ he said.

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