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         AC transforms to ACN, says change imperative
The former Action Congress on Monday ratified its transformation to Action Congress of Nigeria in order to embrace other political platforms it had agreed to partner with.

At the party's national convention in Lagos, which comprised leaders of the former AC, the integrity group of the All Nigeria Peoples Party; the Democratic Peoples' Party; some former loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party, and other delegates, the ACN said the change became imperative so as to form a formidable force that would put an end to the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

The convention, therefore, in accordance with Article 23 of the AC constitution, ratified seven motions to reflect its new nomenclature. The motions include change of name; change of motto; slogan; symbol and flag; state congress and delegates, and disciplinary actions.

Dignitaries at the venue of the convention included the governors of Lagos and Edo states, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Mr. Adams Oshiomhole; National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande; Chairman of the Convention Committee, Dr. Usman Bugaje; former governors of Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, and old Ondo State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Alhaji Lam Adesina and Mr. Bamidele Olumilua, respectively.

Others were, former national chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh; A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, former governors of Adamawa and Anambra states, Mr. Bonny Haruna and Dr. Chris Ngige; Alhaji Musa Gwadabe, states and federal legislators, and party stalwarts from across the six geo-political zones.

According to the Akande, who reflected on the role of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in enthroning a one-party state, the ACN owed it a duty to Nigerians, including the followers of PDP, to warn and demonstrate that a one-party state is antithetic to democracy.

He noted that the PDP-led federal government had found it difficult to penetrate the National Executive Committee of the former AC, adding that it was not so for the ANPP, the Progressive Peoples' Alliance and the All Progressive Grand Alliance as the ruling party had succeeded in sowing discord amongst them.

Akande noted that in realising the need to take over the leadership of the country from the PDP, the former AC had to constitute a high level committee that went round the country to consult and had resolved to field the best candidates, especially the youth, in various elective positions during the 2011 elections.

"We shall not limit our search to politicians or members of the party alone, because the problems of our country are of such a magnitude that they cannot be left to politicians. We are therefore calling on Nigerians in the academic community, business/industrial community, the corporate world, the youth and civil society to join in making this paradigm shift, this generational shift, a reality," he said.

Bugaje "In the 11 years that the PDP has ruled this country, not only has it failed to deliver on its promises, precisely provision of employment, electricity, security, education, health care, among others, it has worsened the situation by infecting all other institutions in the country with its moral infirmity and continued disregard for the rule of law."

Delivering his solidarity message, Tinubu said true progressives should be ready to fight for their rights because, 'Power is not served a la carte.'

According to him, it will take a lot of efforts to unseat the PDP-led Federal Government, adding, 'They are fond of bringing people from retirement to rule us.

"They brought Obasanjo, who planned a coup against our democracy. "We have a national assignment, we can't get there unless we make sacrifices and understand the principle of patriotism; the party's interest must be superior to our personal interest."

Oshiomhole on his part said Nigeria needs a radical change.

Corroborating Oshiomole, Fashola said, "It is a new beginning, the beginning of history. INEC should show demonstrable action by ensuring that resident electoral commissioners in state where rigging took place in the 2007 election are no longer allowed to conduct elections.

"Such RECs must also be brought to book. It is only in Nigeria that we have never set up a panel to probe electoral misdeeds; not since 1959."