How To Make APC Work

Nigeria’s vibrant political climate came to the fore recently when members of the opposition signified their intention to form a mega political party called All Progressives Congress, APC, in order to wrest power from the ruling Peoples  Democratic Party, PDP, 2015. It is believed that this merger will not only give the opposition a national spread but will also provide them a bigger clout.

This is indeed a welcome development, given the fact that the existing political parties that constitute the oppostion are either too fractious and weak to give the ruling party a good fight or are too ethnicised.

However, barely had members of the oppostion met to put the machinery for the formation of a new political party in motion when there appeared to be some sort of disagreement over the party logo and the unwillingness of some individuals and groups within the party to concede some positions.

This is a sad development. Though some may argue that differences are bound to arise in a merger of this nature, considering the different ethnic and political backgrounds the members are coming from, it is too early for them to hold rigid positions.

Politics is about flexibility, negotiation and consensus. It is on these bases that the democratic ethos rests. If members of a poltical party can not agree on some certain issues, then they have no reason to come together in the first place.

Rather than fighting over party positions and other trivial issues, the members of the newly formed All Progressives Congress should be concerned with building a strong party whose foundation is based on a solid ideological framework. Unless they start by entrenching a clear-cut ideology, all their actions would amount to putting the cart before the horse.

As the saying goes, a kingdom divided against itself can never stand. It is only a strong ideology that can unite the various interests within the All Progressives Congress. And it is only when they are united, that they can provide a strong opposition and give the ruling party a good fight.

It is the lack of an ideology that is the cause of the current crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party. If the members of the new mega party do not want to face this same problem in the near future, then an ideology that will bind them and give the party a clear focus is of great essence.