We cannot merge with PDP - AP chairman

Ahead of the 2019 general elections Mohammed Nalado, the national chairman of the Accord Party (AP), has dismissed reports that the party is in merger talks with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Nalado who doubles as chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in a statement in Abuja said even if there was a meeting where PDP and leaders of other political parties discussed merger or alliance, the AP was not part of it and cannot be part of the deal.

‎He said: "The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Accord Party has not contemplated any alliance or merger with any party as being insinuated in the purported media report. The AP will continue to play its role of a responsible opposition party in Nigeria by offering constructive criticism to the ruling APC on policies that affect the people of Nigeria.

‎"We are poised to going into the 2019 elections as lone political party, campaigning vigorously, winning the elections and providing sound leadership to Nigerians on the basis of our manifesto."

The AP chairman also called on the National Assembly to make laws that would uphold party supremacy ahead of the polls.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP has commenced talks with smaller political parties for a merger.

Parties like Labour Party (LP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and five other political parties are being approached by the PDP

The parties want to align forces to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election