Political appointees who are statutory delegates can vote – Nasarawa Governor

Political appointees who are statutory delegates to the National Convention of the governing party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress, APC have the right to vote.

The Chairman of the APC sub-committees on Media and Publicity for the party’s National Convention, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, said this at a press briefing at the APC Headquarters in Abuja.

He was reacting to media reports stating that political appointees have been barred from voting at the APC National Convention because of a clause from Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 which is currently a subject of disagreement between the Executive arm of government and the National Assembly.

 POLITICAL APPOINTEES AS DELEGATES  
The Nasarawa Governor explained that being a political appointee does not stop members from being a delegate.

“On political appointees today, former Presidents are statutory delegates. So if you have a former president or a former senator as a political appointee, these are already automatic delegates,” he clarified.

Let’s not confuse the two just because; being an appointee doesn’t take you out of being a delegate, because our delegates are classified, clearly’,” Governor Sule said.

CONSENSUS CANDIDATES
In addition, the Nasarawa State governor said the consensus will always be a first option for the party in selecting leaders.

“Our first choice is always consensus. And we’re still on that first choice. However, democracy, our (APC) Constitution, and Nigeria’s constitution demand that if that doesn’t work, we’ll go ahead and look at other options. But right now, that remains our option number one,” he said.
Governor Sule also said the public should expect a unity list which, according to him, is usually the outcome of any consensus.

E/Suzan O.