PRP ‘ll merge with like – minded parties – Chairman

By Iyojo Ameh f

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) says it will only  merge with political parties of the same disposition.

National Chairman of the party, Mallam Falalu Bello said this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Bello who said that the party stood on certain principles said:  ” We won’t merge  unless the principles of the other political parties aligned with that of the PRP.

“We have been a political party in Nigeria since 1979. We stand for certain principles and we are not going to merge with any party that doesn’t believe in what we believe in.

“We are in the left of the spectrum, we are not in the right. We are who we are.

“We don’t believe in what they believe. We believe in alliances, we believe in mergers. We should merge or have alliances with people of like mind, not with everybody. Our party is the party of the future.

“PRP will thrive. We are not against mergers neither are we against electoral alliances.

“Electoral alliances in PRP is nothing. We have done it before. We will do it again but based on principles.”

He further said  the party believed in true federalism which he said would solve the problem of ethnic agitations.

“True federalism will solve the problem of this country to a large extent. As a political party, we believe in true federalism as a panacea for solving our socio-economic problems.”

Bello also called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to eliminate all ambiguities surrounding the electronic transfer of election results.

“The electoral process is still far from being perfect and still requires reform if democracy is to survive in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Mr Kola Abiola, PRP’s 2023  presidential candidate, said that “the merger you see today is the coming home of candidates.

“Party members just came together, may be they are thinking of consolidating their votes in the next election.

“There is a big difference. That’s not a merger of parties. That is a reabsorption of people you have lost in your party. It’s a big difference. There is no principle behind that at all.

“That’s not an alliance. We are for mergers but the principles have to be  aligned.