‘PDP not afraid of merger by opposition parties’

Lafia - The National Vice-Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) North-Central Zone, Alhaji Yusuf Ahitogo, says the party is not afraid of any merger by opposition parties ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Ahitogo stated this in Lafia on Saturday at the Grand Reception/merit/ Awards for Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, state Party Chairmen and other major stakeholders.

He said: “the merger talk by other political parties will not in any way affect the ruling party; it is not giving any of our members any sleepless night.’”

“The parties have done it before; they failed, so what magic would they use now to fight PDP.?

“Our party remains the largest party in Africa, and we are determined to follow the provisions of the party’s constitution which is aimed at transforming the country and also provide basic needs of our people.”

Ahitogo said the outcome of the merger arrangement by other political parties was like a merger of strange bed fellows, adding that all the members affected by the merger talk have their own personal interest.

He, however, appealed to members of the PDP in the zone to assist in ensuring that the party recaptures Nasarawa, come 2015 elections.

 “The past two years have been difficult for us at the zonal level with the loss of Nasarawa to the opposition in 2011, this has adversely affected our political activities in the entire North-Central.”

Ahitogo, who also doubles as North Central chairman, appealed to leaders of the party to come together and close rank with each other in the interest of the party, “as we move closer to 2015 general election for maximum result”.

In his remarks, the party’s North Central Youth Leader, Mr Kwaghgba Amande , explained that the youths remained the life wire and effective instrument of the party.

He said the youths would launch “operation re-capture Nasarawa.

“Very soon all the state youth leaders and other concerned political activists in the North Central will map out strategies aimed at recapturing Nasarawa, as we prepare towards 2015 general elections.”

Amande said the loss of the state to opposition party had reduced the zone to a large extend, “our collective bargaining in the political configuration of Nigeria.”