By Chris Ochayi
ABUJA—The All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has realised  N314.5 million from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms from all aspirants seeking for various elective offices across the country under its platform.

National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh, who disclosed this at the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting , attributed the development to strong faith in the leadership of the party and its potentials.

Chief Umeh, while addressing party members at the meeting attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said the money was largely intact baring administrative expenses and cost of hosting NEC meeting.

He said: “We have recorded for the first time, unprecedented number of aspirants for the various elections, who have obtained party nomination forms on payment of the prescribed fees.”

He also declared that the party had recorded tremendous achievements in the area of membership drive, with influx of new members all over the country, particularly in the South East zone.

Noting that no presidential aspirants had yet indicated interest to pick the presidential nomination form, Chief Umeh said the party would be a major stakeholder in the decision to produce the Nigerian president who is transparent and committed to fighting corruption and change the face of thecountry during the 2011 presidential poll.

According to him, “our sale of forms will close on the December 15, 2010 as approved by the NEC today. So we may still have a candidates where we haven’t gotten candidates, but as we even stand here, what we want to ensure is that, wherever Nigerians repose their trusts on our party to hold the reigns of governance, in any state, at any level, quality governance will be delivered.

“So if we don’t have the presidential aspirants or candidate by December 15, 2010, APGA will be a major stakeholder in deciding who the president of Nigeria would be in 2011.

“And if we don’t get any presidential aspirant in our platform, that we can support, that will win elections for the party, we are available to talk with all well meaning Nigerians to work together, to put in place a president that will change the face of this country.

“This country deserves the best and APGA is ready to contribute its own quota in ensuring that a credible person that will fight corruption would take over the reigns of governance of this country, that is our vision.

“And we are available, a lot of people are already discussing with us but we have not gotten to the stage where APGA will say we are supporting this candidate or that candidate. But when we don’t have anybody running through APGA, we are ready to join the debate on how a president that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerian people will be elected.

In his remarks, Governor Peter Obi urged the party members and leaders across the country to continue the struggle towards the emancipation of the party in order to realise its mission for the nation.

According to him, “I urge you to continue the struggle. This struggle was not easy; everybody knows how difficult it was for us to be where we are. And all of you, one way or the other contributed to that. I assure you that we will have other states. As you know, it is you that will be committed it. We will only be to ensure that we support you in that struggle.

He said that the all the processes involved in the selections of candidates during the primaries of the party would be free and fair, adding,, “for me, in Anambra, the only place I will said I will preside, I am not part of what is happening now, as you know. I am just a small person there, but the only thing I will promise is that after the primaries, I will take over.

According to him, “those people you will select, you will see how we will do the elections in Anambra State. Just give us the people that we will need to go for the elections, the rest will be borne by us, we will be there for 24 hours and we have actually commenced our campaigns.

He declared that, apart from Anambra State where the party is expected to win all the seats in the forthcoming elections, the party is committed “to support all other states that are committed to do what we are doing.”