ACN denies role in PDPs victoryTHE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday faulted insinuations that it contributed to the success of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last Saturdays presidential election.The partys National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, yesterday that it was simply unimaginable and highly incongruous that a progressive party like the ACN would work for the victory of the PDP, which had underdeveloped the country in the past 12 years.We understand the seeming misinterpretation of the failure of our planned alliance with the CPC to mean that we helped in ensuring victory for the PDP on the cheap. We understand the frustration of our supporters that this hopeless behemoth could not be dislodged in the interest of our union. But we say with all sense of responsibility that while we regret the failure of the alliance, we did not betray our principles or compromise our integrity.Before the election, we had the option of working with the PDP but we did not take it, because we knew this would not go down well with our supporters and would negate everything that we stood for. Yes, they (PDP) approached us, but we rebuffed their approach, because there was no way darkness and light could work together, the party said.The ACN said the truth was that PDPs victory in the presidential election was not based on issues or ideology, but purely on primordial considerations.That election was fought on the basis of ethnic and religious considerations, matched by huge and unprecedented financial inducements. As we wrote in a statement issued before the election, billions of naira were allocated to each state to be used for inducements and for compromising the election.Unfortunately, the role of money became magnified in an environment of abject poverty and mass deprivation like ours and a party flush with slush funds did not hesitate to take advantage of that, the party said.On the failed alliance with the CPC, the ACN said it did everything humanly possible to make it work, but the other party came to every negotiation perched on its high horse and never for once came down.Even though we out-performed the CPC in the National Assembly polls, we still offered to step down for the party in the overall interest of Nigeria. We bent backwards every inch of the way, especially in the three days of intense negotiations before the election.We risked everything: Our candidate agreed to step down in the national interest, at the risk of the damage that would be done to his candidacy if the alliance failed and that was exactly what happened. While negotiations were still on, the CPC rushed to the press to say that our candidate had stepped down. Many then believed he would not be on the ballot paper and limited their options to choosing between Buhari and Jonathan.We risked the election of our gubernatorial candidates who might have been affected if we had directed our supporters to vote for the CPC in the presidential election. Because such a directive may not have been easily reversed before the governorship election. All we demanded from the CPC during the last days of intense negotiation, when we kept all our national leaders in Abuja for three straight days, was to allow us produce the vice president after the election, and it became too much for them. Simply put, these people wanted us to amputate our two hands for them, while they could not even afford to lose a finger, the party said.The ACN added: Contrary to the arrogant disposition of the CPC that our party was the one virtually begging them for an alliance, the simple truth is that we did not go to them. A group of northern leaders approached us, saying they have spoken with Buhari and that he had given the green light for the alliance.Even then, Buhari negotiated with us by proxy, until we demanded that he appeared in person, which he did reluctantly in the very last stage of the negotiations, to no effect.ACN appeals to all its supporters and all those who desire a change for the better to put the disappointment behind them and continue to work for the emergence of the Nigeria of their dreams.On our part, we remain a party of integrity and progress that will continue to offer the hope of a better, stronger and more united Nigeria to all the citizens, the party said.
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