Oshiomhole charges INEC on registration of APC
Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said the non-registration of All Peoples Congress (APC), by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will rubbish the commission’s image and leave it open for accusation.
This is even as he has said the reaction trailing the emergence of APC shows that there was panic in the opposition camp, insisting there was nothing to panic about.
In the same vein, he has said the happenings in some African countries is enough lesson and Nigwrian Nigeria must live by example in many respect.
Oshiomholewho was fielding questions from State House correspondent’s after the National Council of State (NCS), when asked if he was okay with the politics going on between INEC and APC, said, “I am not aware of any politics going on. I know that it is the right of political parties to merge. We have merged to form APC, All Progressive Congress; so, if people choose to trivialise it, it is up to them.
“I know that INEC will register APC because if they don’t they leave themselves open to accusation. Everybody knows that this has been on the national discourse over the period; it is not a new issue. And if people want to play these cheap games, first it shows that they are panicking and I don’t see any reason why people should be panicking.
“In a genuine democracy, it is in our interest, those in power and those out of power to create viable alternative platform for people to make an informed choice. No party is too good to rule forever, nor is any party to bad to be out of power forever. We have seen what is happening around the African continent. Nigeria must live by example in many respect. And if for some people, these are things to trivialise, it is not about me; it is not about you. Party is not indigeneship; it is a platform of ideas. It is about Nigeria”.
On whether the party will be going to court or protest, Oshiomhole said, “No no; you should talk to our national leaders, thank you”.
The INEC has confirmed that a group, African Peoples Congress (APC), has approached it for registration as a political party.
It said that the group had filed an application for registration as a political party only last week.
He, however, added that the group must fulfill certain criteria before it can be registered.