Raymond Dokpesi leads former PDP members to launch new party called Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance

SEVERAL members of Nigeria's leading Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other members of the opposition have teamed up to form a new association known as the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (Apda).

Launched in Abuja today by the former chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the party claims to have a strong and formidable manifesto and says that already many top PDP leaders have joined it. With the PDP tearing itself over a bitter spat on who is its chairman and the case dragging on in court, disaffected members are said to have decided to float a new party.

Other leading politicians such the former Labour Party chairman Chief Dan Anyanwu are members of Apda and were present at its launch at the Reiz Continental Hotel in Abuja. Its interim chairman is the former chairman of Nigeria's All Party Platform, Mallam Shittu Kabiru Mohammed.

Apda's slogan is Stronger Toget‎her. Other dignitaries seen at the event included deputy national chairman (south) Fijabi Adebo, and deputy national chairman (north) Mahe Dange.