The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has named April 29 the tentative date for its long awaited convention.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This was one of the decisions taken yesterday at a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) in Abuja.
The meeting also addressed the issue of a new funding formula based on a planned continuous membership registration exercise across the country, even as the governors elected under the party’s platform were charged to make concerted efforts in changing the current narrative towards the party
The crisis currently rocking some state chapters of the party was also discussed, with a view to find an effective conflict resolution mechanism that would stem the tide of internal dissension and resolve existing issues.
Announcing the date for the party’s national convention, a statement issued by the party’s national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, at the end of the meeting noted that “the upcoming non-elective convention was also discussed and it was agreed that the convention will take place on April 29th”.
On the president’s health condition, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had earlier observed that President Muhammadu Buhari properly handed over to a competent team led by the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, before embarking on his medical leave abroad.
Oyegun also expressed his displeasure with the media, especially the social media, accusing them of attempting to destabilise the polity by constructing negative narratives about the APC administration.
His words: “Today, the papers were replete with all manner of speculations which has become the past time of the social media to carry all manner of fake and totally out-of-line speculations as to any step that we take on virtually any issue. I think this is something that we have to talk about later.
“We have to change the narrative. I won’t say more than that, but we have to devise measures to change the current narrative in the polity. I will leave it at that”.
Stressing that the president had left a competent team to run the country in his absence, Oyegun said, “What makes me happy in spite of these negative speculations and attempt to destabilise the polity is that, thanks to his respect for due process and the constitution of this nation, he has left a structure that is functioning very effectively in spite of his unfortunate absence and one can say quite clearly that the wish of Mr President is that the government will continue to function efficiently and effectively and that the party also should continue and proceed to execute its normal duties and functions”.
On the reasons for convening the meeting, Chief Oyegun said, “This meeting is just one of the series of meetings we are holding in the run off to the non elective national convention. We have held consultation with our leadership in the senate, in the House of Representatives. We are going to hold consultation with the ministers as part of the preparation for the national convention, which is a mandatory requirement.
“It is a mandatory mid term non-elective convention and the purpose is to allow us as a party and as government to sit down and see how far we have gone, what we have done right, access ourselves by bringing our leaders from all over the country to sit us once every two years and exchange ideas and listen to the achievement of their government.
“There are lots of things that must happen in preparation towards our non-elective convention which the states must be actively involved. We are going to have state congresses, ward congresses and fill vacancies. We will take the opportunity to feel every single vacancy at all levels of the party arising from death, appointment and others. We are also required to elect three delegates who will participate in the forth coming convention”.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, said they (governors) agreed to give support to the party leadership and the government at the center, just as he also announced April 29 as the tentative date for the convention.
The meeting which lasted for over three hours had in attendance governors Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (Kano), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo). The governors of Lagos, Oyo and Niger were represented by their deputies.
Conspicuously absent without representation were Kaduna State governor Malam Nasir El-rufai; Adamawa State governor; Jibrila Bindow and Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun.