Variety learned that Fitial and some Covenant Party officials have met with Republicans to discuss how the by-laws of the two parties can be reconciled to make the merger possible.
Inos said he is aware that “some people” are finding ways to bring the two parties together.
“Why do we have to merge? We won under the banner of the Covenant Party. We had 6,000 votes. With this merging are we abandoning those people who voted for us?” Inos asked.
He said he is concerned by some of the things that have been happening to the Covenant Party.
“Instead of strengthening it, there are certain people who are trying to disintegrate it. Instead of recruiting people, they are removing people,” he added.
He said “some people believe that because you are not a member of the Covenant Party you are not supposed to work in this administration. So how can you add people to the party?”
Inos said the ruling party won two gubernatorial elections in a row.
The Covenant Party, he added, remains the party “to reckon with.”
He said he has not been participating in merger discussions and he disagrees that the Covenant Party should be dissolved.
The party, he added, is a chartered political entity that has won elections.
People in the party may move on but the party will remain, he added.
Variety learned that GOP National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who visited Saipan before the delegate election, urged Republicans to reach out to former party members.
Inos said it is Steele’s job to ensure that the GOP expands.
But in case the merger happens, Inos said nothing will stop him from reestablishing the Covenant Party.
