A new Political Association has been formed Newly-formed political
association, Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, APDA, was unveiled
on Monday in Abuja. The group said it would soon apply to the
Independent National Electoral Commission to be formally registered as
a political party.
The interim National Chairman of the APDA, Shitu Mohammed Kabiru, who
disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists during the
event, however said there were members of other parties waiting to
join the association.
However, Mr. Shittu, who was also the National Chairman of Republican
Party of Nigeria and later Special Adviser to former PDP National
Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, on Inter-party Affairs, further explained
that the PDP members were present at the event to show solidarity with
the new group.
“I want you note now (that) I am calling APDA. I am not calling any
other party than APDA and we should have inter relationship,” he said.
“You should also note that I was the national chairman of the Inter
party advisory council (IPAC). Therefore, members of various
political parties here are here in solidarity with us. And most of
these parties are even ready to come and join APDA.
“Our relationship with political parties or not… what we are focusing
here is APDA.”
In the speech he delivered earlier, Mr. Kabiru said APDA was formed to
actualise the fundamental human rights of Nigerians to determine their
“I want you note now (that) I am calling APDA. I am not calling any
other party than APDA and we should have inter relationship,” he said.
“You should also note that I was the national chairman of the Inter
party advisory council (IPAC). Therefore, members of various
political parties here are here in solidarity with us. And most of
these parties are even ready to come and join APDA.
“Our relationship with political parties or not… what we are focusing
here is APDA.”
In the speech he delivered earlier, Mr. Kabiru said APDA was formed to
actualise the fundamental human rights of Nigerians to determine their
He also said the association was formed in recognition of the general
hopelessness brought upon Nigerians by mal-administration and the
urgent necessity to give them fresh opportunities and new platforms to
re-direct their electoral mandate to a dependable, committed and
capable generation of leaders ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Mr. Kabiru assured that if the association formed the government at
the centre, it would move Nigeria out of the prevailing atmosphere of
political frustration, economic stagnation, leadership failure and
betrayal of the popular will and aspirations of the Nigerian masses.
“APDA stands for an inclusive Nigerian society based on principles of
freedom, equality, solidarity, diversity, equity and fairness,” he
added.
“We are committed to fighting for social justice, job creation and
economic growth. We shall initiate policies and programmes that will
promote consumer rights, sustainable development and financial market
reforms so as to create a stronger, more democratic nation and better
future for every Nigerian.”
Speaking on behalf of the interim National Executive Committee, Dan
Nwanyanwu, said though there were already political parties existing
with all of them lacking any ideological anchor, “we concluded we
needed a new platform to give room to new ideas, new alignments, new
energy and most of all, new pragmatic approaches to confronting
national and political challenges.”
Mr. Nwanyanwu, who was the National Chairman of the Labour Party, said
so many of the established political parties appeared to be fixated
with recycling the same old leaders, repeating the same old rhetoric
and reabsorbing the same old moribund way of doing things.
He said, “Similarly, most of the political parties in existence today
conveniently attach “progressive” to their names when indeed they are
reactionary political parties in content and character or at best
ultra conservative political parties.
“Progressivism connotes regular positive change, for the growth and
development of the society whereas some of these so called political
parties do not make any pretence about their resistance to change.
“The on-going debate in the country between those who support the
implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference
and those who are vehemently opposed to the outcome of that conference
is a typical example here.”
He said APDA was a convergence of patriotic citizens committed to the
indivisibility and corporate existence of Nigeria and who are
determined to enrich true federalism, social inclusion, National
Cohesion and public trust in governance. Mr. Nwanyanwu said APDA
believed that the office of president and national Chairman of the
party should rotate between the North and South and amongst the six
geopolitical zones while that of the governor and state chairman
should rotate within the three senatorial districts.