Barring any last minute hitch, the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change may launch a fresh alliance to contest against Dr. Goodluck Jonathan at the presidential poll.

A reliable source close to the two parties told THE PUNCH on Monday that they would soon come up with fresh guidelines on their alliance for the election.

He disclosed that the National Executive Councils of the parties would meet in Abuja on Monday (yesterday) night to map out strategies for the alliance.

Our findings revealed that the two parties were emboldened by their performance in the National Assembly elections. Results so far released by the Independent National Electoral Commission show the two parties, especially the ACN, making big impacts in states hitherto considered as the Peoples Democratic Party’s strongholds. The results also indicate that the PDP may not have absolute majority in the National Assembly.

Our correspondents learnt in Abuja that the ACN and the CPC met on Sunday in Lagos where they reviewed the National Assembly elections.

Our source added that the two parties projected that there could be a runoff where they would present a common candidate after Saturday’s presidential election.

A top official of the CPC, who did not want his name in print because he was not permitted to speak on the issue, said that at the meeting in Lagos on Sunday, the two parties agreed that their NECs should come up with fresh guidelines on the proposed alliance.

The guidelines, it was learnt, would be based on the results of Saturday’s National Assembly elections.

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, confirmed that the party’s NEC meeting would hold very late on Monday (yesterday). But he declined to disclose its agenda.

The ACN presidential candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and his CPC counterpart Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), are among the 19 candidates that will contest Saturday’s election with President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

But the PDP dismissed the renewed alliance talks between the CPC and the ACN, saying they would not be able to stop Jonathan from wining on Saturday.

The party said the performance of the opposition parties at the National Assembly elections showed that they were not in any position to stop its (PDP) candidate from winning.

The Acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Haliru Bello, who spoke at a news briefing in Abuja on Monday, said the PDP was used to parties ganging-up against it.

However, he said such gang-ups had always ended up making the PDP stronger.

Bello said, “We are used to that. The gang-up started in 2007. It achieved nothing. Then in 2010, before the commencement of this election, they said they were meeting. It did not end anywhere.

“The power to elect Nigerian leaders is vested in the hands of the people. So, no amount of gang-up will work and stop President Jonathan from winning on Saturday.

“The people of Nigeria are behind us and are ready to cast their votes for the PDP. So, those who are meeting can continue to meet.”

When asked if the PDP was also discussing with other political parties, he said yes, adding that about 45 other political parties had identified with it (PDP).

Bello said, “We have 45 political parties working with us. They met us in Lafia, Nasarawa State during the presidential campaign.

“In all the places we visited during the campaign, they were always with us. So, even if it is one vote per political party, since we have 45 and if you add that to our own, then we have 46.

“If we have 56 votes out of 63 registered political parties, then you should know that we have won.”

Besides the talks between the ACN and the CPC, our correspondents gathered that the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum led by Mallam Ciroma’s group met with Buhari on Monday.

It was gathered that the meeting, which was held in Abuja, evaluated the outcome of a sub-committee that evaluated the chances of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; Buhari and Ribadu.

A member of the Ciroma group, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “Our meeting looked at the various political scenarios, in view of the last Saturday’s national Assembly election with a view to deciding where to direct the northern electorate to vote.”



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104128253437

SW watch out!