Congress for Progressive Change
Encyclopedia
The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is a political party founded in Nigeria
in 2009 in preparation for the April 2011 elections.
It is the 63rd political party to be founded in the country and also the last political party to be registered in Nigeria.
, a former military ruler of Nigeria, and his associates. After the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) nominated Buhari as its 2007 presidential candidate, TBO worked with the ANPP in the election campaign, but there was friction between the two groups.
Following the April 2007 elections, in which President Umaru Yar'adua was elected, Buhari instituted a court appeal against the result.
The ANPP decided to join Yar'Adua in his government of national unity, and attempted to persuade Buhari to withdraw the suit, indicating lack of full support for Buhari in the ANPP.
Buhari decided that he needed a new platform to support his political ambitions.
The Congress for Progressive Change filed an application to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) on 26 March 2009, and received official approval and registration on 28 December 2009.
The majority of its initial members were formerly members of the All Nigeria People's Party
(ANPP).
Buhari formally left the ANPP and joined the CPC in March 2010.
He said that he had supported foundation of the CPC "as a solution to the debilitating, ethical and ideological conflicts in my former party the ANPP".
In January 2011 a former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh
, became the National Chairman of the party. The National Secretary of the party was Engineer Buba Galadima, a founding member.
The party advocates political liberalism, as originated by the American philosopher, John Rawls
.
The party's manifesto insists on the amendment of the Nigerian constitution with the view of devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench federalism and the federal spirit.
The party constitution is silent on the issue of zoning, a common practice in Nigeria under which key positions are allocated in rotation to representatives from each region of the country.
, Jigawa
, Gombe
, Anambra
, Imo
and Rivers
states. Prince Tony Momoh protested in a strong letter to Professor Attahiru Jega
, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).
He described the omission as "a premeditated attempt to prevent our numerous supporters from voting for those they believe can bring the change they demand to their lives".
Although the CPC had rapidly gained support in the North of Nigeria, fielding many candidates in the National elections in April 2011, it did not have the same financial resources as the incumbent People's Democratic Party
(PDP).
Elections were held for most seats in the National Assembly Senate and House of Representatives on 9 April 2011, although some had to be delayed due to problems with ballot papers. In the first round of elections held on 9 April, the CPC came third in both Senate and House seats gained. In the Senate, the PDP won 53 seats, followed by the ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) with 13 seats, CPC 6 seats, ANPP 4 seats and other parties took 4 seats. In the House, the PDP gained 123 seats, ACN 45, CPC 21, ANPP 11 and other parties 18 seats.
Mohammadu Buhari ran as CPC candidate in the presidential election held on 16 April 2011. He won 12,214,853 votes, coming second to the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan
of the PDP, who polled 22,495,187 votes and was declared the winner.
The election, considered to have been conducted much more fairly than past contests, revealed extreme polarization between North and South. Buhari won in all the northern states, while Jonathan won in all middle-belt and south states apart from Osun State
, where Nuhu Ribadu
gained the most votes. Turnout was considerably higher in the south than in the north, although the north has more voters.
Following the election, the CPC said it was considering going to court to challenge the result, which it said was marred by widespread irregularities, particularly in the South East and South South zones.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in 2009 in preparation for the April 2011 elections.
It is the 63rd political party to be founded in the country and also the last political party to be registered in Nigeria.
Foundation
The Congress for Progressive Change originated in The Buhari Organization (TBO) formed in 2006 by General Muhammadu BuhariMuhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
, a former military ruler of Nigeria, and his associates. After the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) nominated Buhari as its 2007 presidential candidate, TBO worked with the ANPP in the election campaign, but there was friction between the two groups.
Following the April 2007 elections, in which President Umaru Yar'adua was elected, Buhari instituted a court appeal against the result.
The ANPP decided to join Yar'Adua in his government of national unity, and attempted to persuade Buhari to withdraw the suit, indicating lack of full support for Buhari in the ANPP.
Buhari decided that he needed a new platform to support his political ambitions.
The Congress for Progressive Change filed an application to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
(INEC) on 26 March 2009, and received official approval and registration on 28 December 2009.
The majority of its initial members were formerly members of the All Nigeria People's Party
All Nigeria People's Party
The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate...
(ANPP).
Buhari formally left the ANPP and joined the CPC in March 2010.
He said that he had supported foundation of the CPC "as a solution to the debilitating, ethical and ideological conflicts in my former party the ANPP".
In January 2011 a former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh
Tony Momoh
Prince Tony Momoh is a Nigerian journalist and politician who was Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.-Birth and education:...
, became the National Chairman of the party. The National Secretary of the party was Engineer Buba Galadima, a founding member.
Ideology
The agenda of the CPC lies towards the left wing of the political spectrum, supporting individual liberty, rights and social welfare for the less privileged.The party advocates political liberalism, as originated by the American philosopher, John Rawls
John Rawls
John Bordley Rawls was an American philosopher and a leading figure in moral and political philosophy. He held the James Bryant Conant University Professorship at Harvard University....
.
The party's manifesto insists on the amendment of the Nigerian constitution with the view of devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench federalism and the federal spirit.
The party constitution is silent on the issue of zoning, a common practice in Nigeria under which key positions are allocated in rotation to representatives from each region of the country.
April 2011 elections
There were various problems with ballot papers in the April 2011 elections. The CPC found, just before the elections, that its logo was missing from ballot papers in some constituencies of OgunOgun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
, Jigawa
Jigawa State
-Location:Jigawa State is one of thirty-six states that constitute Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is situated in the north-western part of the country between latitudes 11.00oN to 13.00oN and longitudes 8.00oE to 10.15oE. Kano State and Katsina State border Jigawa to the west, Bauchi State to the...
, Gombe
Gombe State
Gombe State, located in the northeastern part of Nigeria, is one of the country's 36 states; its capital is Gombe. The boundaries of the state roughly correspond to those of the Gombe Emirate,a traditional state.[2]...
, Anambra
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
, Imo
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
and Rivers
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
states. Prince Tony Momoh protested in a strong letter to Professor Attahiru Jega
Attahiru Jega
Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega is a Nigerian academic and Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano.On 8 June 2010 he was nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission , subject to Senate confirmation, as a replacement for...
, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
(INEC).
He described the omission as "a premeditated attempt to prevent our numerous supporters from voting for those they believe can bring the change they demand to their lives".
Although the CPC had rapidly gained support in the North of Nigeria, fielding many candidates in the National elections in April 2011, it did not have the same financial resources as the incumbent People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP).
Elections were held for most seats in the National Assembly Senate and House of Representatives on 9 April 2011, although some had to be delayed due to problems with ballot papers. In the first round of elections held on 9 April, the CPC came third in both Senate and House seats gained. In the Senate, the PDP won 53 seats, followed by the ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) with 13 seats, CPC 6 seats, ANPP 4 seats and other parties took 4 seats. In the House, the PDP gained 123 seats, ACN 45, CPC 21, ANPP 11 and other parties 18 seats.
Mohammadu Buhari ran as CPC candidate in the presidential election held on 16 April 2011. He won 12,214,853 votes, coming second to the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
of the PDP, who polled 22,495,187 votes and was declared the winner.
The election, considered to have been conducted much more fairly than past contests, revealed extreme polarization between North and South. Buhari won in all the northern states, while Jonathan won in all middle-belt and south states apart from Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...
, where Nuhu Ribadu
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a former Nigerian government anti-corruption official. He was the pioneer Executive Chairman of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , the government commission tasked with countering corruption and fraud...
gained the most votes. Turnout was considerably higher in the south than in the north, although the north has more voters.
Following the election, the CPC said it was considering going to court to challenge the result, which it said was marred by widespread irregularities, particularly in the South East and South South zones.