NCP Denies Reports of Merger With Other Parties, Says It Remains A third Force And Sole Alternative

Yunusa Tanko

The National Conscience Party (NCP) has refuted claims in the local media that it had merged with some parties in a bid to contest robustly in the 2015 general elections.

The refutation came at a press conference held in Lagos yesterday. Speaking on behalf of the party, its general secretary, Ayodele Akele, denied a statement in the media about the party’s merger with other parities. The statement was credited to the NCP’s national chairman, Yunusa Tanko. Mr. Akele said that top officials of the party had received a series of calls seeking clarification about the authenticity of the report. 

Media reports had quoted Mr. Tanko as stating that the NCP had begun discussing terms of alliance with other parties. The other parties in the alleged merger plans include the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Labor Party (LP), and the Socialist Democratic Party (SDP).

While dispelling the report, Mr. Akele however admitted that the party chairman had raised the option of a merger during the party’s last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. He added that he had expected the chairman’s suggestion to invite media attention.

"After [Mr. Tanko’s] embarrassing speech, I took him up immediately in the presence of some other NEC members where he said his intention was to provoke the alliance talk, but I told him it is dangerous as his intention could be misconstrued and that it is likely to be reported by the media. As fate would have it, my worst fear was confirmed as the story [has been] in the headlines since Saturday,” said Mr. Akele.

He added: “The position of NCP that I inherited and the wishes of the members that has not changed is that we cannot lose our identity, our hard-earned reputation, or our robust manifesto on the altar of alliance or merger with any political party. We remain a third force and the most credible party and platform, Nigeria’s foremost political party and the only party that can be trusted.”

The NCP scribe disclosed that the only merger talks ever envisaged by the party was brokered by Femi Falana at the formative stages of the new APC, adding that the idea failed because NCP members were opposed to mixing with any parties that hold visions different from the manifesto of the NCP.

“Ever since making our position clear to the Falana-led group, they have stopped inviting us to their meetings till date and we are not interested,” Mr. Akele said. He revealed that the manifesto handed down by the late Gani Fawehinmi, who founded the party, embodies a “10-care program for the masses,” adding that it remained the NCP’s bible.

Mr. Akele warned that no individual or body could railroad NCP members into any merger or unholy alliance.

Also reacting to the media reports, NCP chairman, Mr. Tanko, clarified that he had sought the opinion of executive members on the idea of entering into alliance with other parties with similar visions. He denied that the NCP was in any process to merge with other parties.

“I only enunciated alliance with parties that share similar visions, not outright merger,” Mr. Tanko said.