CPC faction seek merger with new party, PDM

Published:August 19,2013

CPC

The Hanga faction is planning to merge with PDM.

Newly-registered party, the Peoples Democratic Movement, is considering a merger with a faction of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, led by Rufai Hanga, a spokesperson has said.

A spokesperson for the faction, Aghanya Dennis, said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja that discussions had been on between the two sides for more than two months.

“Discussions have been on between the two groups for the past months through our leaders Senator Hanga, Senator Maman Dan Musa and caucus of our Northern leaders over the possibility of a merger between the two vibrant political groups in the North,” a statement said.

It added that the agreement was for efforts to first be directed at ensuring the registration of the PDM by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Mr. Hanga is the founding National Chairman of CPC, who was replaced with Tony Momoh. He held on to the certificate in protest after he was blocked from re-contesting the position.

Mr. Hanga, a former senator and some members of the former NWC challenged their removal from office in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. The case was ongoing before the merger of CPC with other parties to become All People Congress, APC.

He continued to lead a faction of some aggrieved CPC members.

The statement said with the PDM registered on Friday, pressure has intensified from members of the two parties on the need to urgently merge and began the process of building a new political party.

The statement said it was working speedily to be able to field a candidate in the forthcoming Anambra state governorship election.

“The South/East and South/South CPC caucus currently rose from a meeting in Enugu and agreed to forward their request to the national leadership of the CPC under Sen Hanga to urgently conclude arrangement and ensure merger with the PDM,” the statement said.

On the faction’s court case with the defunct CPC, it accused INEC of incompetence, and violating court order by allowing CPC to merge without the original certificate in its possession.

“Whether the judgment favours us or not the future of our party requires a form of merger to make it vibrant and viable. In due course, the leadership of our party will address the nation on its decision.”