The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said it did not force the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to join the newly-formed All Progressive Congress (APC).
Reacting to APGA’s published disclaimer of the APC, ACN’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, that the new party has absolute respect for the rights of individuals or groups in a democratic setting.
Explaining how APGA joined the merger talks, Mohammed said: ‘’We recognise the person and status of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who as Imo Governor has been a great player and figure in Nigerian political landscape, as well as Senator Annie Okonkwo, a seasoned politician and respectable lawmaker.
‘’We believe in their representation that APGA is interested in the merger; hence we worked with them in good faith. They participated effectively and positively in the meeting of all governors of the parties concerned and in the meetings of the merger committees of the parties, leading to the communique released by all the Governors endorsing the merger and the eventual announcement of the merger by the committees.
‘’However, going by the statement signed on behalf of some APGA members by Dr. Tim Menakaya, the APC had come to the full realisation that there is dissent in the rank and file of the party (APGA), the statement added.
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