By Okoi Obono-Obla
Comprehensive History of APC Formation-
Early Exploratory Discussions (2008–2010):
Negotiations for the formation of the APC began around 2008, with exploratory meetings held between General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the aegis of the National Democratic Movement. Atiku Abubakar initially participated in these discussions but later withdrew when he defected to the PDP from the Action Congress. By 2010, efforts continued to build consensus for a broad-based national progressive party.
Coalition Attempts (2011):
In 2011, the Action Congress and the CPC attempted to form a coalition to contest the general elections together. Although the bid failed for various reasons, it laid the groundwork for future merger talks.
Merger Committees and Governors’ Agreement (January–February 2013)
By January 2013, both ACN and CPC announced the constitution of their merger committees. On 31 January 2013, progressive governors of ACN, ANPP, CPC, and APGA met and agreed that their parties would merge. In February 2013, the first meeting between the merger committees of CPC and ACN passed a resolution to invite ANPP into the merger talks.
Joint Inter-Party Merger Committee (March–May 2013):
In March 2013, the merger committees of ACN, ANPP, CPC, APGA, and DPP met in Maitama and resolved to collapse into a Joint Inter-Party Merger Committee, with merger talks beginning in earnest. The committee included nearly sixty members from all the merging parties. Chief Tom Ikimi (ACN) served as Chairman, with Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP), Senator Mohammed Garba Gadi (CPC), and Senator Annie Okonkwo (APGA) as Co-Chairmen. The Co-Secretaries were Chief Okoi Obono-Obla (CPC), Dr. George Moghalu (ANPP), Dr. Ibrahim Lame (ACN), and Senator Osita Ozuniso (APGA).
The committee also included prominent figures such as Chief Segun Osoba, Professor Tamuno David West, Professor Buba Bagoja, and several governors. These were individuals of stature who could not be dictated to or pocketed. Every decision was taken after thorough deliberation and consensus, with no one teleguiding the process.
On 13 February 2013, the CPC Merger Committee was inaugurated by General Muhammadu Buhari at the CPC National Secretariat, Utako, Abuja. During the inauguration, he instructed the committee to negotiate with all progressive political parties and associations but not with the defunct ANPP. However, at the first meeting with ACN, the CPC delegates were told bluntly that ANPP must be part of the talks. Recognizing the risk of failure, CPC delegates resolved to accept ACN’s proposal and later briefed General Buhari in Kaduna. He did not oppose their decision and thanked them for a job well done.
INEC Registration (May–July 2013):
In May 2013, the INEC and Legal Compliance Sub-Committee of the Joint Inter-Party Merger Committee was formed to prepare documentation, including the constitution, to support the application to INEC for registration of APC as a political party. On 31 July 2013, INEC approved the registration of APC, and the party was officially born.
Interim Leadership (June 2013):
In June 2013, the Interim National Executive Committee of the APC was constituted, with Chief Bisi Akande as Chairman and Alhaji Tujjani Tumsah appointed as Interim National Secretary. The constitution was part of the requirements prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration of the political association known as APC.
Key members of the 2013 APC Interim NEC included:
– National Chairman: Chief Bisi Akande
– Deputy Chairman (North): Aminu Bello Masari
– Deputy Chairman (South): Senator Annie Okonkwo
– National Secretary: Alhaji Tijani Tumsah
– Deputy National Secretary: Mallam Nasir el-Rufai
– National Publicity Secretary: Alhaji Lai Mohammed
– Treasurer: Hajiya Sadiya
– National Organising Secretary: Senator Osita Izunaso
Defections and Expansion (2014):
In May 2014, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Amaechi, and others defected from the PDP to join the APC, strengthening the party’s national presence.
Role of Progressive Governors:
Before the merger talks, opposition progressive governors had already aligned themselves with the idea of forming a new party. These included:
– ACN Governors: Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), and Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo).
– ANPP Governors: Abdul-Aziz Yari (Zamfara) and Kashim Shettima (Borno).
– CPC Governor: Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa).
Their collective support provided the political strength and legitimacy needed to drive the merger process forward.
Background Leadership Support:
The leaders of the merging parties had the background support of General 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.
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. The rest, as they say, is history.
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