- Yuguda, ex-NSA Gusau, Waku, others listed as leaders
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, some former state governors and chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress as well as the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party have begun moves to form a new political party to take over the governance of the country, our correspondent has learnt.
The new political party to be known as the Green Party of Nigeria, has been scheduled for a formal launch within the next six weeks.
Already, some of the promoters and leaders of the new party have been boasting that GPN is poised to change the country’s political landscape and alter the calculations of political pundits regarding the 2019 general elections.
If formally registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the GPN will join the 46 existing political parties to jostle for various political offices to be contested in the 2019 polls.
Its maiden convention is expected to be held in Abuja after the various state congresses are concluded immediately after its formal launch.
Some of the leading members of the new party include the former governor of Bauchi State, Sen Isa Yugudu; ex-Abia State governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu; former minister of defence and ex-national security adviser, Lt. Gen Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd); and Senator Joseph Waku. A former vice president (names withheld) has also been listed among the brains behind GPN.
Our correspondent gathered from inside sources that the GPN is a coalition of the ruling APC, the PDP and some of the other existing political parties.
Some of the existing parties named in the coalition include the Labour Party, Congress of People’s Party and the Unity Party of Nigeria. One Mr. S.E Ike has been identified as the interim national secretary of the party.
“Big and known politicians are coming together to form the party because of the failed promises by the APC and PDP that ruled since the commencement of the forth Republic. We are determined to take the nation by storm. The new leaders of the party are progressives and we are turning down the attempt by discredited politicians to join the party”, a leading member of the party, who pleaded anonymity, said.
He further noted that the programmes of the party have been designed in such a way to attract the Nigerian electorate to its fold. These includes free education, provision of social infrastructure, refurbishment of public institutions, provision of housing, care of the aged and the elderly, free health, full employment and unblemished Federalism.
The party is said to have its presence in every state and local government areas in Nigeria.
