Many Reasons APC Convention Won’t Hold February

The All Progressives Congress (APC) will not hold its national convention billed to produce its national chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in February, Leadership Newspaper has reported.

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) chaired by Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, may have decided to postpone the national convention due to pending issues, including the ongoing reconciliation process carried out by the national reconciliation committee chaired by for Nasarawa State governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

It was also gathered that the APC leadership feels it is inappropriate to hold the national convention in February when the party’s  membership register is yet to be ratified at the national level after the nationwide registration and revalidation exercise said to have brought the number of party members to over 40 million.

Following the dissolution of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) headed by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in 2020, Governor Buni was unanimously nominated and endorsed by the party’s top echelon to chair the national caretaker committee.

His tenure has been extended severally, a move some members of the party say is helping in building a formidable structure for the 2023 general elections.

LEADERSHIP reports that forms have not been printed for aspirants to purchase and notify their supporters, even as there are no plans to convey delegates from the 36 states to Abuja for the convention.

A source close to the caretaker committee told the newspaper that the national convention would not hold next month “because the reconciliation process to address grievances arising from the state congresses is yet to be concluded.

“The national leadership of the party has not ratified the membership register after the registration and revalidation exercise held across the states, and there is no way the convention will hold without the ratification of the party’s membership register,” the source who did not want his in print said.

Also, based on the provision in the Electoral Act 2014 (as amended) all political parties are expected to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 30 days before the conduct of a convention to enable the electoral body to monitor the exercise.

Another source in the party however confided that APC is yet to send the notification, which takes the form of a formal letter and an advertorial in newspapers, to INEC and there is no sign it would do so as the timeline to give such a notice expires this Friday.

“I can tell you very clearly that the convention can’t hold this February because INEC has not been notified. No advert has been placed and no forms for the aspirants to purchase. Even if they were ready for the February convention, Friday is the last day they can communicate to INEC,” he said in stating why the APC convention cannot hold February.

“The caretaker committee has not even started meeting concerning the convention. Also, after their meeting, they will have to meet the leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari, to look at the date. If he is comfortable, the committee can now notify INEC and do other preparations.

“With all that, I don’t see these meetings happening this week. So, the convention cannot be held by February because we need to give INEC a 30-day notice.”

On the plan by some members of the party to push for a consensus candidate ratified, another party chieftain told LEADERSHIP that the party may opt for a consensus

He said, “Yes, I can tell you that there are options for consensus and some members of the party are suggesting that, which we believe will cut cost and save the party from crisis that could affect not only the party, but the nation’s polity. Consensus for the office of the national chairman is being considered and we think it is the best option”.

Also, a reliable security source monitoring political activities told LEADERSHIP that based on the intelligence they have gathered, they will advise the APC leadership to go for a consensus candidate.

The source said since the nation is about to enter another political dispensation, efforts must be put in place to ensure the country is peaceful.

Source: Leadership

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