The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it is not involved in the formation of any other political organisation with the acronym APC as being speculated by some politicians.

The party made the clarification just as its former acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, also denied claims that he and some other members of the PDP were behind the activities of the African Peoples’ Congress.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, gave the party’s position in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

“Our attention has been drawn to unfounded and vexatious reports claiming that the PDP is behind the identity tug of war by groups claiming the acronym APC.

“The reports have suggested that agents of our party are involved in the formation of the African Peoples Congress (APC) to frustrate the merger of opposition parties under the canopy of the All Progressives Congress.” Metuh said

He decried the dimension the report had assumed, especially within a section of the online media.

He further said that contrary to allegations, the PDP e-mail address had never been made available to any external body for the purpose of disseminating information.

“For emphasis, the PDP did not at any time use its e-mail address to circulate the so called APC’s press statement of 15th March 2013.”

Metuh, however, said the PDP usually circulated its statements to a wide network of e-mail contacts and had no control over who chose to make use of them.

“The fact, however, is that the e-mail in question did not originate from our domain.”

He reiterated that PDP welcomed a strong and virile opposition and could not be threatened by the emergence of any group.

Metuh added that the party had no cause to frustrate any alliance as it had always defeated such coalitions in the recent past.

He said PDP would remain focused on strengthening its bond with Nigerians.

Reacting to the claim linking him with the APC in a statement personally signed by him, Alhaji Baraje said he was not in any way connected with the new party and described the allegation to the contrary as baseless, unfounded and a big ruse.

According to him, those behind such allegations misfired as they goofed in their statement and advised them to face the problem confronting their party, rather than embarking on mere political speculations.

Alhaji Baraje expressed surprise that some politicians could descend so low to castigating others in the name of politics without embarking on thorough findings of their claims before going to the press.

According to him, ”I have served my dear political party the PDP at the topmost echelon with disparity that is second to none and I have also left the party intact and better than I met it.”

“My team and I honestly and diligently left a PDP that is devoid of rancour and with the highest level of internal democracy. The PDP I left behind has passion for integrity, cohesion and teamwork,” he added.

Alhaji Baraje also stated that during his leadership period, he worked assiduously to build bridges between PDP and other political parties.

He therefore wished other political parties involved in the merger success in their aspirations to form a stronger opposition.

“I also urge my dear political party, the PDP to see the formation of a merger of other political parties as a healthy development necessary for a functional democracy but should not be treated with kid gloves.

Recently, there was a publication where a group claimed that Alhaji Baraje and some leaders of the PDP were the brains behind the African Peoples Congress.