Congress: APC grants waivers to new members, returning executives to contest
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed that it would grant waivers to new members as well as well as returning executive members who would want lo contest in the various stages of the party’s forth coming congresses
The party stated this as it released an updated schedule of activities and guidelines for the conduct of the party’s nationwide Ward Congresses scheduled to commence Saturday July 31, 2021.
The updated schedule, which is contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the National Secretary, APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, revealed that purchase of nomination forms for Ward, Local Government Area/Councils and State Congresses will take place from July 19 to August 28, 2021.
It further revealed that the screening of aspirants for the Ward party’s positions will commence from July 29 to July 30, 2021 while ward Congresses will hold July 31, 2021 and Appeals arising from Ward Congresses will hold between August 2 to August 7, 2021.
According to the notice; “In line with Article 11:A sub-section (i-xiii) and article 16(i) of the Party’s Constitution (as Amended), the APC will be organising its congresses across the 36 states and FCT to elect its Wards, Local Governments and States Officials. Only Wards and Local Government Areas stipulated in Sections 156 of the Electoral Act and in part I&II of the First Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as Amended) are recongised.
“The Caretaker Committee of the party, in a bid to ensure open, credible and fair congresses that reflect the sanctity of internal democracy in the party, issues a guiding regulation for the nationwide congresses of the party. It is binding on all persons coordinating and participating in all Congresses,” the statement read.
On Ward Congress Committee (WCC), the ruling party noted: “Each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) shall for the purpose of the party’s 2021 congresses have a committee of seven persons who are to be selected based on their proven integrity.
“They shall be appointed and supervised by the Caretaker Committee. This committee shall be referred to as the Ward Congress Committee (WCC). The members of the committees will be posted to places outside their states of recruitment. It shall be composed of a Chairman, Secretary and five other members, One of whom shall be a woman (where possible). The committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the Ward congress exercise in their place of posting.
“The WCC shall appoint three persons from any other part of the State other than the Ward in which they will serve (to be referred as Local Ward Congress Committee (LWCC). Who shall be responsible for the conduct of the Screening/Congress in their assigned Ward under the directives/supervision of the WCC. The WCC shall ensure that the exercise is all-inclusive,
“In addition to waivers granted to officers seeking re-election, Waiver is hereby granted to persons who joined the party recently to vote and be voted for, provided that their names are in the Ward Registers, ”the statement noted, adding that accreditation of intending party voters for all congresses shall be conducted and approved by the respective National Congress Committees at all levels.
