The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a response to Prof. Pat Utomi’s suggestion of merging three significant opposition parties, dismissing it as an unwarranted and extravagant fantasy. Utomi, a political economist, had disclosed an agreement among Atiku Abubakar (Peoples Democratic Party), Peter Obi (Labour Party), and Rabiu Kwankwaso (New Nigeria People’s Party) to establish a robust party with the aim of displacing the APC in 2027.
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC expressed doubt regarding Utomi’s proposal, labeling him as a recurrent proponent of mega parties that never materialize. The party highlighted Utomi’s earlier endeavor in 2021 to launch a people-centered ideological mega party under the National Consultative Front (NCFront), intending to challenge both the APC and the PDP. However, this initiative failed to progress beyond media coverage.
The APC underscored Utomi’s recent suggestion in 2024 for potential collaboration among the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It characterized these parties as lacking ideological orientation or failing to align with the Nigerian people to improve their lives.
The statement implies that Utomi may believe his personal involvement in the proposed alliance could transform these parties, which he had previously criticized as decadent and anti-people, into pillars of political and economic liberty for Nigerians. The APC dismisses this belief as an unfounded and exaggerated sense of importance on Utomi’s part.