Tom Ikimi

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) on Thursday declared its readiness to confront the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) head on in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

To ensure proper coordination of its activities, the coalition has opened its National Secretariat in Abuja, less than a month after it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for next year’s polls.

The CUPP also promised Nigerians that it will feature an acceptable and credible presidential candidate that will defeat incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and redirect the nation’s economy to the path of growth.

The coalition, which was formed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 38 other political parties to wrest power from the ruling APC in 2019 said its government would respect human rights and freedoms, protect and respect the cherished values of democracy and democratic institutions as well as put right the country which it said has now been dangerously divided along ethnic, religious and tribal lines.

In his address at the event, CUPP Chairman, Chief Tom Ikimi said that the secretariat which is located in Wuse 2 District, Abuja, will serve as a meeting point for the 40-member political parties which signed the July 7 MoU.

The coalition also unveiled a steering committee headed by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola with Chief Peter Ameh as its  Secretary while Barrister Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Comrade Mark Adebayo emerged as 1st and 2nd National Spokesmen of the coalition respectively.

Four committees namely: Blueprint/Manifesto Committee, Publicity/Media Committee, Strategy Committee and the Contact/Mobilization Committee, were also inaugurated at the event.

Members of the committee are Senator Ben Obi, Alhaji Buba Galadima, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, A. S. Salam, Chief Peter Eke,  James Ojerika, Godson Okoye, Igwe Benjamin Emeka, Rasak Oyewawi and Olusegun Peters.

Others are Shedrack Okpebelu, Abduljeleel Tafawa Balewa, Tanko Yunusa, and Georgina Dangogo.