… Sets time-line for LG Congress
The All Progressive Congress has picked the first week of September, 2021, for the conduct of its local government congresses across the country.
It is however tentative, according to a statement credited to the Secretary of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator Peter Akpanudoedehe.
Akpanudoedehe dismissed initial reports which suggested that the party may have ditched the conduct of its remaining congresses.
He said, “Reports in some sections of the media that the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has indefinitely suspended Local Government Area (LGA) and State Congresses is false.”
“Following the recent inauguration of Ward Congress Appeal Committees”, the Party Secretary revealed, “the official information from the party was that dates and guidelines for the LGA Congresses will be fixed after the conclusion of the Ward Congresses Appeal exercise.”
That process, which took place in states across the country after the ward congress held, has been concluded, some dependable sources disclosed.
The sources noted that several meetings, with Governor Mai Bala Buni in attendance, have taken place at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja, in the past few days.
“The party is making steady progress”, one of them stressed, “What is happening shows how prepared the party is. We are on target.”
Akpanudoedehe expressed confidence that the congresses, beginning with the local government Congress, would hold as planned.
“The CECPC has tentatively fixed LGA Congresses for the first week of September, 2021.
“On behalf of the CECPC Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni, we assure our teeming party supporters, members and leaders of our unflinching committment to credible, transparent and participatory congresses, leading to the National Convention of our great party”, the Secretary added.
Despite several distractions coming from certain quarters, including the PDP, the APC is pushing forward with its plan to establish solid structures which will enhance party administration.
The Supreme Court has straightened arguments regarding the status of Governor Mai Bala Buni as the top manager of the Caretaker Committee.
The Apex Court specifically hinted that there were no legal obstacles confronting the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in the light of its judgment in “Jegede vs Akeredolu”
With ward congresses out of the way, attention is turning in the direction of local government and state congresses which would usher in officials than would man party structures.
There have been calls on party members who are in court to withdraw their cases, but there are indications that the party directive is being resisted by some aggrieved persons.
Many within the APC who are struggling to compel the courts to rush to their rescue appear to be losers in a battle of unequal political structures which exist within the party.
Most of the cases in court are challenging issues that jurists in the Appellate Court and the Supreme Court are increasingly seeing as the internal affairs of political parties.
Nigerians are wondering why the PDP is dabbling into what can be seen as APC’s internal business.
The PDP is supporting a motion in court which is seeking to deny Buni of his place as a governor and head of the Caretaker Committee.
The push back against Buni, an experienced party administrator, who left the National Secretariat to contest as the Governor of his State, suggests that the Governor may be posing a huge threat to the PDP.
His tenure has witnessed the defection of several PDP heavyweights, including serving State Governors, to the APC.