Nigeria Content Online

A clearer picture of the newly formed
Mega Party of Social Democrats in the country emerged yesterday in
Lagos when initiators announced it will be launched on April 28.

A statement by the group said the
party, which has the backing of the labour unions, will hold further
negotiations over providing a formidable alternative to the Peoples
Democratic Party in the 2011 elections.

The statement signed by Olawale
Okunniyi, secretary of the Harmonisation Team that recommended the new
platform to other stakeholders, said its birth is an ingenious way to
quickly solidify opposition forces, who recently came under serious
pressure from reactionary forces.

“Just as organised Labour was the
catalyst and mainstay of the Social Democratic Party of old, the new
social democrats of the mega party have received great impetus from the
Labour Movement, whose leadership specifically requested at the last
meeting to align with the new platform at various levels through its
political commissions,” said Mr Okunniyi.

“The Leaders of Conscience in the mega
movement and our allies in the Political Commissions of the organised
labour are therefore expected to endorse a deferred Memorandum of
Understanding, initiated at the last meeting, at the forthcoming
National Summit on April 28, when the party will be launched,” he added.

The group’s chieftain further disclosed
that while some of the leading political parties in the country have
agreed to fuse into the SDP, others have only decided for the time
being to go into patriotic alliance with the mega party for the purpose
of presenting one common presidential candidate in the 2011 elections.

According to Mr. Okunniyi, less than a
week after the party’s formation, over 45 key political figures across
the six geopolitical zones have pledged their membership and requested
to be allowed to set up branches of the party in their various states.

Direct members

He, however, stressed that the party
will, in the meantime, operate two levels of membership namely direct
membership and Parties/ group alliance. He listed those who have so far
opted for direct membership of the party include Pat Utomi (Protem
National Chairman), Olu Falae, Audu Ogbeh, Sam Ewang, Lateef Jakande,
Ayo Adebanjo, Bala Takaya, Robson Momoh, SOZ Ejiofoh and Ahmed Yusuf.

The national chairman of the Conference
of Political Parties (CNPP), Balarabe Musa, he said, leads the pack of
those who preferred to work in alliance with the mega party, adding
that the full list of the protem officers would be officially released
by the party next week to enable it prepare for a national summit,
where the Social Democratic Mega Party would be launched.

Mr. Okunniyi also said that the former
All Nigeria Peoples Party presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and
other key leaders of the Mega Movement from the north are expected to
play a key role in the choice of the party’s leadership.