The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the proposed change of name by the Progressive Peoples Alliance.
The party had written INEC for approval to change its name to All Progressive Peoples Alliance.
But in a letter, which was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, A.C. Ogakwu, and addressed to the National Chairman of PPA, Chief Sam Nkire, INEC said the new name and acronym were similar in appearance and pronouncement to those of two existing registered political parties.
INEC gave the names of the two parties as the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the African Peoples Alliance.
In the opinion of the Commission, the name change by PPA offends Section 82(2)(C) of the Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended).
According to INEC, PPA also breached the procedure for such a name change by not registering the alterations to the PPA Constitution, which led to the name change, within 30 days as stipulated by Section 222(d) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
The letter however acknowledged the election of Vitalis Ajumbe as the National Publicity Secretary of the party at its National Convention, during which it changed its name from PPA to APPA.
When contacted, Nkire said the development was no doubt a setback for the party.
He however said the leadership of the party would soon meet to decide whether to go to court, choose yet another name or revert to the party’s old name, PPA.
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