The final nod given to the All Progressives Congress by the Independent National Electoral Commission came at the right time within the political circles of the country. While the members of the APC family received the news with relief and joy, the PDP clan viewed it with understandable apprehension, especially since the new party is coming at a time when the PDP is trying to put out many fires within its camp – the face off between the president and Gov. Amaechi, Tukur and Nyako, Ekiti, Anambra, the South West zone, touring governors, over ambitious ministers, you get the drift.

Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, the opposition have never lived up to its name in the true sense of the word. They have been considered as appendages of the ruling party with their leaders often seen within the corridors of power soliciting for favours.

The few parties that gave the PDP a good fight were regional parties that never quite got around to defeating the PDP nationally. The Action Congress of Nigeria had a good outing, especially in the 2011 elections by trouncing the ruling party in the South-West but that feat couldn’t be replicated in the North where the All Nigeria Peoples Party (3) and the Congress for Progressive Change (1) between them garnered only four states, with the PDP carting off the remaining. The All Peoples Grand Alliance also got 2 states in the South-East.

The three main opposition parties ANPP,ACN,and CPC rightly figured out that for them to remain relevant and increase their reach, they had to merge and form a formidable platform to free Nigeria from the iron grip of the PDP that has so far proved to be disappointing. They have succeeded in giving birth to the party but the question is, will the APC survive the initial hiccups often associated with such mergers? Only time will tell if this unity will be sustained.

For now, the APC is calm and basking in the euphoria of the celebrations. When parties with regional dominance come together, the expectation is that each component party will try to muscle its way to get what it wants usually by blackmailing the other parties.

The choice of the APC presidential candidate will be the ultimate test of the party’s unity. Will they rally around the candidate that wins the primaries or are we going to witness a new crisis in a new party?

The APC is now a single united front but elements of the component parties may strive to form cliques within the new party and strive to dominate everything. The aftermath of this power play will determine the lifespan of the union.

The leaders of the new party have a great task ahead of them. They need to position the party for leadership. No great political feat can be achieved without laying a solid foundation of discipline and commitment within the party first.

Nigerians sincerely need a strong opposition party that will shake the PDP to its foundations so that even if they don’t win the elections, they will keep them hard on their toes.

Will the APC live up to its billing?

http://ynaija.com/politico/the-apc-the-calm-before-the-storm/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

One thing am sure I the final burial of pdp was ignited yesterday......
That clueless johnathan don't have any point to prove again.....
APC all the way
Hit like button if you believe in all progressive congress