Formation of the APC Through Merger

By Okoi Obono-Obla 

Formation of the APC Through Merger:

Nobody hijacked the APC at any time. The APC was formed through a merger between the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), the Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), and two factions of APGA and DPP. The merger was achieved by dialogue, consensus building, and negotiations that took place between February 2013 and June 2013.

The merger talks were held at the residence of Chief Tom Ikimi (Chairman of the ACN merger committee) at Thames Street, Maitama, Abuja. The merger committees of the participating parties collapsed into a Joint Inter-Merger Committee. Chief Tom Ikimi (ACN) served as Chairman, while the Co-Chairmen were Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP), Senator Mohammed Garba Gadi (CPC), and Senator Annie Okonkwo (APGA). The Co-Secretaries were Chief Okoi Obono-Obla (CPC), Dr. George Moghalu (ANPP), Dr. Ibrahim Lame (ACN), and Senator Osita Ozuniso (APGA).

After the conclusion of negotiations, the APC, then a political association, applied to INEC for registration. This followed the national conventions of the merging parties, where they formally agreed to the merger. On 31 July 2013, INEC registered the APC as a political party.

Before the merger talks, all the opposition progressive governors in the country—including Babatunde Fashola, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Ajimobi, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, His Excellency Ibrahim Gaidam, H.E. Modu Sheriff, and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko—had already agreed to the formation of the APC. This consensus was later formalised by the Joint Inter-Party Merger Committee.

In addition, the leaders of the merging parties had the background support of President Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had begun discussions as far back as 2008 on the possibility of forming a broad-based national progressive party. Other key figures included Prince Tony Momoh, Engineer Buba Galadima, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and H.E. Rochas Okorocha. The Joint Inter-Party Merger Committee itself comprised nearly sixty members drawn from all the merging parties.

Conclusion: The APC’s formation was the product of structured negotiations, consensus, and formal agreements, rooted in years of dialogue among progressive leaders. Its legitimacy rests on the collective will of the merging parties and their leaders, not on any hijack or imposition.