The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied newspaper reports that it has rejected a bid by some political parties to merge into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“This is to affirm that the reports in the Nigerian Tribune and the Daily Champion are utterly false,” the commission said today in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode R. Idowu. “The Commission has not written to stop the merger bid as APC.”
Tribune had said “In a letter dated April 23, 2013 and signed by its secretary, Abdulahi Kaugama, the commission informed leaders of the All Progressives Congress of another party, the African People’s Congress, advising that a change of name may be an option”.
“Similar letter was sent to the lawyers of the All Progressives Congress, though the commission did not make any reference to ongoing court action by the African People’s Congress, challenging its non-registration by INEC.’ the report claimed .
The commission explained that what happened was, the commission rejected an application by another association seeking to register as the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria (APCN), as the acronym proposed by that association is similar to that of another which is already seeking registration, supposedly the APC.
“The Commission hereby reassures Nigerians that it will always do the right thing as a dispassionate and impartial regulator of the political process,” the statement said.
