Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM has finalised plans to effect the merger of some leading political parties and movements in the country to be able to effectively dislodged the ruling APC government in the country by 2019. Not less than 15 political parties and movements have already signed on to the deal; with a strong readiness to dissolve into a common political platform ahead of the 2019 elections
It is worthy of note that, NIM and President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM were front liners in the initiative that translated into the grand alliance of some like minded political parties and movements, which was recently launched as Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP in Abuja two weeks ago
NIM in a statement by its National Secretariat issued in Abuja on Sunday by its Media Assistant, Mr Olubori Isah Obafemi disclosed that the latest move became inevitable for NIM, as the antecedents of electoral alliance in Nigeria has proved a great deal of futility and despondency in Nigeria since it has barely achieved its purpose, due to political self interest of coalescing parties and their gladiators. “Nigeria’s political history is clearly replete of failures of electoral alliance, especially as it concerns a common platform and flag bearers of past alliances at critical period of elections.
It is to that extent that the National Secretariat of NIM was mandated in June to embark on a national consultation with leaders of political parties for the purpose of exploring the prospects of initiating a formidable alliance or merger of frontline political parties as well as groups that are yet to apply for registration with INEC or those with pending registration towards an understanding for a fusion into a common political platform for the 2019 elections in order to enable the required cohesion for ousting the ruling political platform in Nigeria
However, alliance talks, being coordinated by the Director General of NIM recently delved more towards the prospects of sealing a formidable and result oriented merger as a way of consolidating the progress made with the formation of CUPP. So, in a bid to quickly rap up the merger deal this week, for parties, which prefers merger to alliance, the National Secretariat of NIM, in a deft move to meet the statutory deadline for merger or fusion of parties in Nigeria, is expected to urgently send a formal notice to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in lieu of the 21 days notice required by INEC for the merger of political parties as stipulated by the Nigeria’s electoral act, since it is very clear to aligning stakeholders that merger of political parties by the law is still achievable and it is the sure bet for defeating Nigeria’s ruling forces in 2019 and this will not prevent cooperation and collaboration with parties that simply prefers to operate only within the electoral alliance of CUPP
Some of the fresh and neutral nomenclatures already agreed by parties and stakeholders involved and
to be proposed for INEC approval this week includes; Accord of All Democrats, AAD, Nigeria Intervention Movement, NIM, Zenith of Nigerian Patriots, ZNP, Alliance of All Progressives, AAP among others. However, in the case of a likely delay by INEC, the merging parties have already slated two newly registered political parties for adoption at a joint national convention scheduled hold in August 2019
To seal the strategic plan of the aligning parties, a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU capturing all vital agreements has already earlier been endorsed by all parties and stakeholders involved this historic process; with a strong resolve to surpass the 2013 merger process of the All Progressive Congress, APC, which has started crumbling for lack of common ideology and process profundity.
Some of the gladiators and leaders nominated by NIM to drive the final stage of the merger are Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Engr Buba Galadima, Rt Hon Ghali Umar Naaba, Mr Donald Duke, Col Umar Dangiwa, Dr Abdujalil Tafawa Balewa, Senator Datti Baba Ahmed, Dr John Darah, Dr Olu Agunloye, Mallam Isa Ozi Salami among other credible leaders of the fresh breed political movement in Nigeria.
