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The National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze, has reaffirmed his commitment to positioning the party as a formidable force in Nigerian politics.
Speaking at the party’s national convention after securing another term, Udeze declared his vision to lead the AA toward taking control of the government at the center through strategic alliances and a robust mobilization strategy.
Emphasizing the party’s commitment to electoral integrity and internal stability, Udeze highlighted AA’s consistent compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines.
“Our party has continuously met INEC’s standards, which is why everyone is here today,” he said, stressing the AA’s full accreditation and its prospects for growth.
He credited his leadership for the party’s competitive edge, pointing to its control of the Etche Council leadership in Rivers State as evidence of his political strategy. He also attributed the AA’s stability to his inclusive leadership style.
“The peace the party has enjoyed so far is because I am a team player. I run a rancor-free administration where everyone’s opinion counts,” Udeze stated.
Despite challenges from external forces, Udeze expressed confidence in the party’s resilience, dismissing what he described as “frivolous and ridiculous litigations.” He assured members that his leadership would safeguard the party from political opportunists.
“The most crucial reason for my continued leadership is to ensure that we take our party to a more prestigious position, free from political terrorists and captors,” he said.
Udeze underscored the importance of institutional memory, reaffirming his deep understanding of the party’s journey.
“I know where we are coming from, I know where we are now, and I know where we are going—to leave a significant mark in Nigerian politics,” he declared.
He also discouraged party-hopping, emphasizing the need for political loyalty and patience.
“Politics is not a do-or-die affair. If you don’t get the position, support someone who can do the job well and work with them,” he advised.
Reflecting on the party’s history, Udeze reiterated his commitment to reviving the AA’s founding principles, originally established by Prof. Maurice Iwu on August 29, 2005.
He pledged to honor past party leaders and contributors through an annual leadership lecture series, set to begin in 2025, recognizing figures such as the late Senator Suleiman Salawu, Alhaji Abdullahi Dogolinkita, and Princess Amaka Ezinne Agbiogwu.
He acknowledged the party’s internal challenges, noting that past crises stemmed from political instability and disregard for party loyalty.
“We have endured internal party struggles since 2016, largely due to inconsistencies in political commitment. One of the reasons for such conflicts is the tendency to jump from one party to another,” he noted.
Outlining his administration’s key priorities, Udeze pledged to strengthen the party’s leadership and structures at all levels, recruit new members and leverage existing strengths, position the AA for electoral success, recognize and celebrate the contributions of past leaders, ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all members seeking office, enhance voter education through collaborations with INEC, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and other stakeholders and promote mass mobilization while discouraging electoral fraud and violence.
Reflecting on past conventions, Udeze recalled the evolution of AA’s leadership. The party’s first convention was held in Oyo State, leading to the election of Senator Suleiman Salawu. The second took place in Abuja in 2013, bringing in Pastor Taiwo Ibiyemi, who later handed over to JCI Sen. Tunde Anifowose Kelani.
The third, in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, in 2017, resulted in Udeze’s initial election after serving under Salawu. The fourth convention was held in 2021, culminating in the current fifth convention.
He acknowledged the internal political struggles that had affected some state executives, noting that “desperate power seekers” had caused disruptions, leading to premature termination of some state chairmen’s tenures.
“This convention marks another milestone in our party’s history. We will continue to build a stronger, more united Action Alliance,” he concluded.
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