A faction of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has formed an alliance with the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).
Led by their factional National Chairman, Senator Rufai Hanga, the group said they do not wish to join the purported merger of their party by a faction with the new opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Hanga said that despite having a case still pending in court to determine the actual leadership of the defunct party, they can no longer continue to wait while political developments pass them by.
Speaking at the declaration of the merger with PDM on Tuesday, Senator Hanga said their decision to become members of the PDM was based on the fact that the party has a track record of democracy and organisational discipline, adding that they believe in the party’s manifesto.
Hanga, who said his faction had experienced impunity and dictatorship at the highest level in CPC, pointed out that there is no other party in Nigeria at present that abides by the values of justice and equal treatment for all its members.
“Above all, we have confidence in the party’s leadership; its commitment to do justice to all as well as its pledge to treat all party members equally without discrimination of any kind. There is no other party in Nigeria today which abides by these values and there is no other party which is likely to do so, as far as we know,” he said.
According to him, their legal struggle still continues, adding that they have decided to join the PDM regardless of the outcome of the court ruling which is expected next Monday.
“This is a decision over which we had no control, although we have already undertaken extensive consultations and arrived at a decision on the course of action to take whichever way it goes.
“The pace of political events in Nigeria is moving at the speed of light. We do not want to play into the hands of the same destructive and undemocratic forces whose actions compelled us to seek redress in court. In the first place, by allowing political developments to pass us by while they organize to foist another fraudulent agenda on the nation we cherish so much. Doing so will be a great disservice,” he said.
The Tony Momoh-led faction of the party in February 2013 formed an alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
The alliance produced the All Progressives Congress ((APC)