“Nigerians, who resolved against PDP’s mismanagement of Nigeria’s socio-economic and ethno-political lives and therefore voted them out of Aso Rock Villa on March 28, 2015, are however watching to see the miracle the new party (APDA) formed by largely members of the same PDP stalwarts will scale through to victory in 2019 “when we are not fools.” A source in Abuja told The DEFENDER.”
There was a dramatic turn of events Monday when an active chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and media mogul, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, attended the unveiling of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA) in Abuja.
Also at the event was a former chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dan Nwanyawu, even as there were speculations that they were clearing the coast for many aggrieved chieftains of PDP and other parties to finally defect.
Dokpesi was an ardent supporter of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the PDP and part of the forces against the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as PDP National Chairman.
A senior security personnel at the Wadata Plaza, the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, and another secretariat staff of the PDP were also sighted at the event but they pleaded anonymity.
The media mogul is yet to officially announce his exit from the PDP.
In his speech, APDA’s Interim National Chairman, Malam Shittu Mohammed Kabiru, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties with elective officers of betraying the popular mandate given them by Nigerians.
Kabiru said that the party was planning to challenge the APC in 2019 to take over power and address the fundamental issues bedeviling the nation.
“Our gathering here is constitutionally backed. Our convention will come up between now and November. We must have inter-relationship with other parties, but we are not funded by the PDP.
“The PDP members you sighted here are in solidarity with us. Our short time plan is to sanitise the electoral system. Our long term plan is to win elections; get into government and put our economy on the right path,” he said.
The unveiling and presentation of the party’s flag to the interim chairmen of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was done by Barrister Dan Nwanyanwu, a former National Chairman of Labour Party (LP).
But the spokesman of the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in a statement, denied any association with the APDA.
Other dignitaries at the event were the Deputy National Chairman of the party (South ), Fijabi Adebo and Deputy National Chairman (North) , Dr. Mahe Dange.
The slogan of the party is ‘Stronger Together,’ with a ‘star’ as its logo.
Nigerians, who resolved against PDP’s mismanagement of Nigeria’s socio-economic and ethno-political lives and therefore voted them out of Aso Rock Villa on March 28, 2015, are however watching to see the miracle the new party (APDA) formed by largely members of the same PDP stalwarts will scale through to victory in 2019 “when we are not fools.” A source in Abuja told The DEFENDER.
