AC mergers with 10 other parties to form ACN

ACTION Congress (AC) will, on Monday next week, metamorphose into a new political party as it changes its name to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Nigerian Tribune has gathered.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that this was the agenda of the several merger talks that the Chief Bisi Akande-led party had been involved in the past months, with the event scheduled to take place in Lagos at the national convention of the party.

According the Nigerian Tribune finding, the AC was changing its name to ACN, following successful merger talks with about 10 other political parties, including the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) and a faction of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which was recognised as Integrity Group.

Former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and the national chairman, Lieutenant-General Jerry Useni, were expected at the convention as DPP collapsed into the ACN.

It was also learnt that some aggrieved members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had resolved to join the new party ahead of the 2011 poll, with a source telling the Nigerian Tribune that at the time the new party took root, it would be adjudged the largest opposition party in the country.

Findings showed that the exercise would bring about some changes in both the logo and flag of the AC, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which was said to have been briefed on the development, would be present at the convention.

Already, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that in spite of the fact that General Muhammadu Buhari might have dumped the idea of merger with the AC for the purpose of contesting the 2011 election, the party was said not to have foreclosed going into alliance with the Buhari-led Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), currently making waves in both Katsina and Kano and other states in the North.

It was equally gathered that the new party would commence registration of members about two weeks after its convention, with the exercise slated to be held throughout the country.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the register would be used for the ward congress of the party which would be conducted shortly after the convention.

A source told the Nigerian Tribune that activities towards 2011, particularly campaign by office-seekers had been slowed down due to the fact that the outcome of the merger would impact positively and there might be need for the new party to adjust certain things in its programme.

Already, it was being suggested that while Chief Akande would continue as chairman of the proposed ACN, some other executive posts in the AC might have to be given up to accommodate parties that would now be in the merger.