Nigeria Content Online

Last week’s secret
meeting between the presidential candidate of the Congress for
Progressive Change, Muhammadu Buhari, and his Action Congress of
Nigeria counterpart, Nuhu Ribadu, was aimed at strengthening the
ongoing alliance talks between the two parties ahead of the April
polls. Spokesperson for the CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, disclosed this
yesterday in a telephone interview with NEXT.

Messrs Buhari and Ribadu
reportedly met in Kaduna last Thursday night, during which the former
allegedly pleaded with the latter to step down for him as part of the
concession in the ongoing talks between the two opposition parties.
Unconfirmed reports also said that the presidential candidate of the
All Nigeria Peoples Party, Ibrahim Shekarau, had agreed to form an
alliance with the CAN and CPC to come up with a joint presidential
candidate for the April election.

Mr. Fashakin noted
that it was a positive development as it would help to define the
relationship both parties were entering into.

“I may not be able
to give details of the meeting because I was not part of it,” Mr.
Fashakin said in a telephone interview. “I read it in the papers.
However, it is part of the ongoing efforts at ensuring a good showing
of the progressives during the April elections. You are aware that the
two parties are discussing on how to go into the elections, that is to
forge a common front, such meetings will strengthen this development. I
will definitely let you know the outcome when we conclude the talks.”

Not telling

The CPC
spokesperson debunked claims that the party was also discussing with
the All Nigeria Peoples Party with a view to go into some form of
political alliance. He said that he was not aware that the CPC had ever
approached the ANPP, the party in which Mr. Buhari contested the 2003
and 2007 presidential polls, for any talks.

“That is not to my
knowledge,” Mr. Fashakin said. “I don’t think we have any alliance with
ANPP now.” Also speaking yesterday, Chido Onumah, spokesperson for the
Nuhu Ribadu Campaign, said he was not in the know of the meeting
between his principal and the CPC presidential flagbearer.

“I have no information on this,” Mr. Onumah said in a telephone chat.