National Convention: Caretaker Planning Committee holds meeting in Abuja
As the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni announced February 26 as the designated date for the National Convention; he confirmed that the CECPC’s closed-door meeting was to also decide on the various sub-committees to be saddled with putting in place a hitch-free national convention next month.
He disclosed this in Abuja at a women conference organised by the party. Noting that the APC is the most women-friendly party in Nigeria and they would continue to support women to realise their political dreams.
Further reports show that the former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is being tipped to head the Publicity Sub-committee at the same time, the Commissioner for Information in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, would serve as secretary.
Equally, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, head the security sub-committee, the same role he played during the 2018 APC National Convention. However, the meeting could not finalise discussions on the composition of all the sub-committees and was therefore adjourned to today.
Party sources said the adjournment was necessitated by the need to re-examine some membership of the sub-committees to satisfy all interests.
The CECPC will be expected to release a comprehensive timetable for the convention today.
“We look forward to having more women contesting in the forthcoming national convention of the party on February 26, 2022, and the general elections. As we approach the convention and draw closer to the general elections, I wish to remind you of your Progressives roles and supporting progressive-minded leaders aspiring for various offices for the betterment of our country,” Buni stated.
According to Buni, who is also Yobe State governor, APC has over 41 million registered members, adding, “this figure has asserted our position as Africa’s most prominent political party and of course, Nigeria’s leading political party. With this, we are confident of winning the 2023 general election with huge success,” he declared.
How to ensure a successful convention
Meanwhile, to ensure a successful convention on February 26, the CECPC must write and inform the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on or before February 5, the mandatory 21 days required by law. To monitor the convention by INEC, the party must write the commission 21 days before the exercise.
The CECPC must also address some critical issues it identified last week. The issues are “addressing contestations within the party, litigations, fallouts of recently-conducted Congresses and generally repositioning the party” ahead of the convention.
Indeed, the crises arising from the recent Ward, Local council and state congresses are still raging. The congresses are yet to be conducted in Anambra and Zamfara. The party is factionalised in both states.
In most of the other 34 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where the congresses were conducted, feuding stakeholders are locked in bitter skirmishes to control the party’s soul. Also, some aggrieved elements are in court challenging the outcome of the congresses in their states, just as five members have approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for an injunction to stop the party from going ahead with the national convention.
The Plaintiffs- Suleiman Dimas Usman, Muhammed Shehu, Samaila Isahaka, Idris Isah and Audu Emmanuel- told the court that they are members of the party in Zamfara State and the Federal Capital Territory.
They argue that going ahead with the exercise would disenfranchise delegates from Anambra and Zamfara states. To ensure a rancour-free exercise, the party must get these suits withdrawn or resolved before the convention. There is also the issue of six by-elections across four states held on February 26, the same day as the convention.
Following the declaration of vacancies by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Speakers of some State Houses of Assembly, the INEC had scheduled bye-elections for six constituencies in four States on February 26 as follows: Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency, Plateau State; Pankshin South State Constituency, Plateau State; Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Cross River State; Akpabuyo State Constituency, Cross River State; and Ngor-Okpala State Constituency, Imo State.
The APC is fielding candidates for these bye-elections and must handle the challenging task of contesting the polls and holding the convention simultaneously.
NAN/Suzan O.
