Our Commitment to Progressive Reforms, Electoral Promises Unwavering – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says its commitment to lead the process of democratic change in the country is unwavering.

The APC National Secretary, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe stated this in a press statement to felicitate with Nigerians as the country marks Democracy Day.

“A democracy is as strong as the political parties it produces, and the CECPC is rebuilding the APC to strengthen our democracy. The APC commitment to lead the process of political change in Nigeria is unwavering,” the party said.

The party said its leadership and millions of its members and supporters will continue to recognise and appreciate the sacrifice made by many Nigerians in the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria which contributed to the decision to officially recognise June 12 as the nation’s Democracy Day.

“We join all Nigerians and true democrats in expressing gratitude to President Buhari for his display of political will in the posthumous honour to Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election who paid the ultimate price in the struggle to actualise his unjustifiably annulled mandate,” the party added.

The party noted that in line with the CECPC’s core mandate to engender unity in the party, promote true reconciliation and give a sense of belonging to every member of the Party, the CECPC effort at resolving internal misunderstanding has paid off with many formerly aggrieved members withdrawing and terminating all litigations involving the Party in compliance with the party’s NEC resolution.

“As a peacemaker and stabilizing voice, Governor Mai Mala Buni is constantly meeting party leaders, party groups and interests in order to accommodate all in the APC fold.

“The outcome of this effort resulted in the return of prominent Party members and leaders including, the former PDP National Chairman, Senator Barnabas Gemade; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Dr Alex Otti among others, to the APC family. Only recently, the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade renounced his membership of the opposition party and joined the APC.

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“Ahead of the planned APC National Convention and indeed the 2023 general elections, stakeholders have continued to support the CECPC efforts to strengthen unity in the party and make it a more formidable nation-building machine. This will lead to the delivery of more dividends of democracy across the country and many happy returns of Democracy Day celebrations under the APC-led governance,” he said.

The party also pointed out the efforts of the APC-led National Assembly to Foster democracy by embarking on a public hearing as part of efforts to amend the constitution.

“It is a widely known fact that many of the clamours and agitations in the polity such as restructuring, fiscal federalism or devolution of powers require constitutional alterations.

“Commendably, the APC-dominated National Assembly has organised public hearings to gather inputs from across the country to ensure that such ideas are taken into cognisance in the process to alter some of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution,” the statement read.

The APC also said President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has made strides in delivering the dividends of democracy through an Agriculture revolution, infrastructural development, National Social Investment Programmes amongst others.

Zainab Sa’id