The newly formed All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it will provide free education if elected at the federal level.

The party stated this on Tuesday at the end of the meeting of its 10 governors in Abuja.

The 10 governors, drawn from members of the four parties that merged to form the APC, are Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Tanko Almakura (Nassarawa), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

Adressing journalists after the meeting, Mr. Almakura said the priorities of the new party would be agricultural development, job creation, free education, affordable healthcare, infrastructural development, adequate power supply, eradication of poverty, war against corruption, rapid technological advancement and industrialisation.

“We shall pride ourselves as social democrats that are committed to organising our society based on the values of justice for all and individual freedom where everyone’s basic needs are fulfilled,” he said.

Formation of committees

The Nassarawa governor also announced the formation of zonal contact and mobilisation committees, headed by six of the governors.

Mr. Geidam (Yobe) will head that of North-East; Mr. Almakura, North-Central; Mr. Yari, North-West; Mr. Okorocha, South-East; Mr. Oshiomhole, South-South; and Mr. Fayemi, South-West.

The Imo Governor, Mr. Okorocha, also used the opportunity to clarify that his party, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA’s stance in the merger.

“Let me say that APGA is in the merger talks. We have our little challenges and we are just trying to sort out who are the APGA-APGA and who are the APGA-PDP.

“But I can tell you that the APGA-APGA (the real APGA) is already in the merger talks.”

A faction of APGA led by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra has distanced itself from the merger.

Also speaking with journalists at the end of the meeting, Mr. Oshiomhole underlined his commitment to the merger.

“I am fully convinced about the need for this merger,” he declared. “There is no question about my conviction and my commitment to the merger.”