Three key opposition parties have returned to the negotiation table for a formula that will end the 12-year reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The parties are the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Leaders of the three parties met in Abuja on Sunday night to discuss a three-point battle plan for the April general elections.

On the cards are:

•how to work together to ensure that votes count in all polling stations;

•the shape of alliance the parties may adopt in case of a presidential run-off against the incumbent President; and

•how the three parties can work hard to win majority seats in the National Assembly and form a parliamentary alliance.

It was learnt that the three parties weighed the options, following the emerging trend of a likely presidential run-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates, such as Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (ACN); Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (CPC); and Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP).

The presidential candidates of the three parties are from Adamawa in the Northeast (ACN); Katsina in the Northwest (CPC) and Kano in the Northwest (ANPP).

Ribadu may earn substantial votes from the Southwest and Northeast; Buhari may control much of the votes from the Northwest. Shekarau has a firm grip on Kano, his political enclave.

INEC has released a provisional figure of 67.7million eligible voters for the April polls.

Of the total figure, the Southwest; the Northeast and the Northwest account for 43,301,974million (representing 56.49%).

The breakdown is as follows: Southwest (14,318,356); Northwest (18,900, 508); and Northeast (10,083,110).

Following the resentment in the Northwest and some parts of the Northeast and Northcentral against the President, the opposition is banking on a run-off.

Section 134(2)and (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) says: “A candidate for an election into the office of President shall be deemed to have been duly elected to such office where, there being more than two candidates for the election - (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than  one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“In default of a candidate duly elected in accordance with sub-section (2) of this section, there shall be a second election in accordance with subsection (4) of this section at which the only candidate shall be-(a) the candidate who scored the highest number of votes at any election held in accordance with the said subsection(2) of this section and (b) one among the remaining candidates who has a majority of votes in the highest number of states, so however that where there are more than one candidate with a majority of votes in the highest number of states, the candidate among them with the highest total of votes cast at the election shall be the second candidate for the election.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the three parties are still talking.

He added: “Do not foreclose a working alliance because the race is still open. Nigerians will know soon after the first presidential ballot.

“The opposition is really anticipating a run-off poll going by the political mood nationwide.

“That is why we have opened fresh discussion. We are bound to agree and disagree on this alliance but the interest of the masses is paramount. Nigerians are tired of the PDP and we will do our best to forge an alliance to dislodge them.”

A top official of the CPC and two-term member of the Senate, Senator Abu Ibrahim, confirmed the fresh alliance talks by the three parties.

He said: “It is true that there was a meeting yesterday (Sunday) of the ACN, CPC and even ANPP. The three parties have started planning ahead in case we come into a stalemate and the next President could not emerge through the first ballot.

“We foresee the likelihood of the presidential election moving into the second round. Therefore, if we are talking now, it makes it much easier because the moment we become friendly, it will become easier.

“We are also thinking of parliamentary alliance. The presidency is important, but there are other areas of interest that we cannot foreclose. We have been meeting on how to work hard to ensure that the three parties secure majority in the National Assembly and check the tyranny of the PDP.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/29473.html

This picture seems appropriate:

^^^^

That's the real deal, secure the national assembly, reduce PDP's grip.

eku_bear:

This picture seems appropriate:

More like this?

^--- Perfection! 

I knew that the mass political migration of PDP members into ACN would lower the respect I have for ACN. I feel sorry for Fayemi, having to deal with these rubbish

Democracy dividends CANNOT be obtained through ACN - Autocrats Congress of Nigeria- old men imposing their wives, kids, in-laws, relations and maybe even househelps on their party members.
Progress CANNOT come from ACN- Alliance for Corruption in Nigeria with Tinubu as their leader and Achike Udenwa as frontliner.
Shine your eyes, identify, scrutinise, select and mobilise support for your national and state assembly legislator candidates on individual merit basis NOT on party basis

Word







https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-614766.0.html

The big-wigs of the small parties will always plan to stop the PDP, but the real power of execution lies with the hungry electorates who will readily sell their votes to the highest bidder -- the PDP -- when the time comes.

slap1:

The big-wigs of the small parties will always plan to stop the PDP, but the real power of execution lies with the hungry electorates who will readily sell their votes to the highest bidder -- the PDP -- when the time comes.

Overly pessimistic, I think? Anyway, we shall see.