APC CECPC to announce new date Tuesday

…Set to inaugurate sub – committees

…Stakeholders threaten to invoke Article 25 of party’s constitution

*Articles says convention can hold with 1/3 majority of party members

 *Your actions worst than Oshiomhole’s NWC era, PGF DG slams Buni led CECPC

*As APC Rebirth Group slams Tinubu, Umahi for declaring for presidency amidst party crisis

By Ezeocha Nzeh

 There are strong indications that a new date for the much talked about National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will be announced next Tuesday by the party’s Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC)

The CECPC had earlier announced during a visit of three Governors of the party, including the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Abubakar Atuku Bagudu of Kebbi state, Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa state and the CECPC chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state to President Muhammadu Buhari late 2021 that the convention would take place in February 2022

But with little or no preparation in place for the convention till this this moment, reports emerged early this week that the committee may have shifted the convention to June, a report which has been roundly denied by the committee

Denying the report through a statement he signed Tuesday in Abuja, Secretary of the Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), senator John Akpanudedehe, decribed the report as a “sponsored fake news on APC activities that  are simply bent on causing confusion and fomenting crisis through misinformation.” 

“As a focus-driven, process-oriented political party, the APC Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni will not be distracted by self-serving antics of these sponsors of fake news. The APC Caretaker Committee is already embarking on nationwide consultations with Party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention. To this end, the sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course. 

The Party notes and appreciates the continued support of well-meaning members and leaders as the APC Caretaker Committee undertakes the immediate task of addressing contestations within the Party, litigations, fallouts of recently-conducted Congresses and generally reposition the Party ahead of the National Convention.” The statement stated

This is coming even as some concerned stakeholders of the party have threatened to invoke Article 25 of the APC constitution to organize the party’s planned convention, if the CECPC fails to conduct it in February as it earlier announced 

On the possibility of a new date to be announced Tuesday, a source close to the CECPC confirmed to The AUTHORITY that the Buni led committee has resolved to conduct the National convention in no distant time

The source who informed that the committee has acknowledged the concern of the party’s numerous stakeholder about the delay in conducting the convention, noted however that the February date has been ruled as it will no longer be feasible

The APC source informed further that Governor Mai Mala Buni and his CECPC members would meet with the convention’s Budget and Finance sub – committee, immediately after its inauguration of Tuesday, adding that it is at that meeting that a new date would be agreed for the convention 

“One obvious thing is that the committee has seen the urgent need for the National Convention to hold. It is also obvious that the February date will no longer be feasible, but it must be definitely held before June. So it cannot be delayed further because as I speak with you now, the CECPC has fixed a meeting for Tuesday with the convention Budget and Finance sub – committee, which will also be inaugurated same day”

The APC source, who would not want to be mentioned blamed the delay on intrigues and interest from both the CECPC members who either have their eyes on returning to the elected National Working Committee (NWC) or using the committee to influence their winning poarty tickets ahead of their 2023 ambitions, as well as outside influence from many other stakeholders who also have interest in different elective seats in 2023

In their threat to invoke the party’s Article 25, the stakeholders countered the position of the CECPC  that it cannot hold convention without conducting congresses in all states. The committee argued that with Anambra state congresses yet to conducted it would mean leaving stakeholders from the state out should it go ahead with the planned National Convention

But the stakeholders that spoke differently cited article 25 (iii) of the party that states that the party needs only 1/3 of its members for the National Convention to hold.

States like Anambra and Zamfara were yet to conduct their congresses, while states like Lagos, Ogun, Abia, Rivers, Delta, Kano, Bauchi, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and more are said to have factional executives.

 It is on these bases that some party members are canvassing for the postponement of the Convention pending when the party would reconcile aggrieved members 

However, Article 25 (A) (I) of the APC constitution states: The National Convention of the Party shall be held once in Two (2) years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee and approved by the National Executive Committee subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission and at least fourteen (14) days notice given to members eligible to attend.

ii. Without prejudice to Article 25 (A)(i) of this Constitution, the National Executive Committee may summon an emergency National Convention at any time provided at least seven (7)days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members eligible to attend.

iii. The quorum for the meetings of the National Convention shall be one third of its membership.

iv. The provision regulating the meetings of the National Convention shall apply mutatis mutandis to State Congresses, Local Government Area/ Area Council Congresses and Ward Congresses.

A   chieftain of the APC from Kano State, Kabir Musa argued that, “with the above provisions of the constitution of the party, the party can go ahead and hold it’s convention.

The stakeholders argument is coming when as some party members have dragged the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee to court over the Convention.,  asking the court to stop the conduct of the Convention until congresses are conducted in all the states.

The applicants of the suit, Suleiman Usman, Muhammed Shehu, Samaila Isahaka, Idris Isah, and Audu Emmanuel joined as defendants in the suit APC, Chairman of APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Thinks plaintiffs are praying the court to among other requests, stop the convention on the ground that party congresses are yet to be completed in all the 36 States of the federation

It would be recalled however that factional caretaker committee of the APC, headed by former Kogi state governorship aspirant, Mustache Audu, had earlier fixed February 25 as date for its own National Convention

Your actions worst than Oshiomhole’s NWC era, PGF DG slams Buni’s CECPC

Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman has  slammed the Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC for deliberately delaying the party’s National Convention

Lukman regretted that the CEPC has continued to give excuses as to why it cannot conduct its national convention as scheduled until certain conditions precedent are met.

He expressed deep concerns on the deliberate ploy by the committee to delay the convention, warning that it may end up been worse that Adams Osiomholeled NWC era

“Shortly following the news of the alleged postponement, the Secretary of the CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe issued a statement of rebuttal, calling on the general public to ‘completely disregard fake news on the reported suspension of the planned National Convention’.

“The statement further informed the public that the CECPC ‘is already embarking on consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention.’ Sadly, the statement, like previous ones from the CECPC didn’t announce any date and venue for the National Convention. Very disappointingly, the statement said ‘sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course.’

“This is a slap on the faces of Nigerians and an insult on party members. How can a statement from ‘a focus-driven, process-oriented political party’, make such a scandalous statement allegedly assuring that a Convention scheduled to hold in February without indicating a date and venue for the Convention? If subcommittees, whether for budget or anything are to be set up, to perhaps mobilise funds for the Convention, why are they not set up with just about two weeks to the end of January?”, He queried.

According to Lukman, it is now somehow difficult not to conclude that the CECPC is intentionally promoting speculations around the APC National Convention by claiming to embark on ‘consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free National Convention.’He said; “Recall that on November 22, 2021, the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), His Excellency Abubakar Atiku Bagudu led a delegation, which include the CECPC Chairman, His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, to President Muhammadu Buhari to finalise consultations on the date of the Convention. Immediately after the meeting with President Buhari, His Excellency Bagudu announced the agreement reached with President Buhari to the effect that the Convention will hold in February 2022.

“With such an agreement, the responsibility of the CECPC is to go ahead and start organising the Convention. With almost two months after, the CECPC has not issued any notice of the Convention to anyone. Not even the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which by the provision of the Electoral Act as amended is required to be given at least 21 days’ notice. It is very difficult not to conclude that both the Chairman and all members of the CECPC have no respect for President Buhari, which is responsible for why they are doing everything possible to sabotage decisions validly taken to hold the APC National Convention in February after consultation with the President.”For whatever reasons, it would appear that the leadership of CECPC are enjoying all the public speculations maligning Governors and some other senior leaders of the party as working to stop the APC National Convention from holding in February 2022. This is most unfortunate.

“The truth must be told, the responsibility of organising the February 2022 APC National Convention rests squarely with the CECPC.”At this point, it will be necessary to remind all members of the CECPC and by extension all leaders of APC that part of the reasons that made it very necessary to dissolve the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led National Working Committee (NWC) was the disrespect for leaders and members of the party, especially by Comrade Oshiomhole, the former National Chairman of the party.

“The CECPC leadership have returned the party back to mode of open disrespect for any recommendation given. It is even worse now given that the CECPC is ready to sacrifice the future of the party. Clearly, what is steering us in the face is that all the bad leadership records under Comrade Oshiomhole led NWC is about to be met and outstripped by the present CECPC.

“Unless this is addressed, as a party, APC may continue to change leaders, but the problem will remain.

“APC, being a party envisioned to facilitate the process of political change in Nigeria, must appropriately use the present challenges to begin to introduce changes to the process of political leadership recruitment in Nigeria.

“However, the first challenge now is to ensure that the CECPC has no option but to organise the APC National Convention in February 2022 as decided based on all the consultations that has taken place.

“The CECPC must be told that all consultations about organising the Convention ended with the meeting with President Buhari on November 22, 2021 and therefore the CECPC leadership should stop lying to Nigerians and APC members.

“Given that already, 2023 electoral atmosphere is gradually setting, the temptation that choices of leaders of the party will be based on permutation for 2023 will be very significant.

“Once that is the case, the probability will be high that the soul of APC will be sacrificed in the process of assembling new leaders.

“The more the party continues to allow the leadership of the CECPC to continue to hold everyone captive and refuse to commence the process of organising the February APC National Convention, the more party leaders would have supported the CECPC in weakening the electoral prospects of the APC.

“APC must not make the mistake of orientating its internal party mobilisation for the emergence of candidates for 2023 elections, especially Presidential Candidate only based on personality contest.

Continuing, Lukman noted that, “Personality contest will only weaken the APC and undermine the capacity of the party to link its 2023 electoral contest with the achievements of the party, especially the Federal Government led by President Buhari.

“Once that is the case, the party will be strengthening the false opposition narrative about the failure of APC and President Buhari.

“If APC want to unassailably win the 2023 elections, it must take all the necessary steps to correct this false narrative.

“This can only start happening if everyone, APC leaders and members, rise to the challenge of ensuring that the CECPC faithfully implement the decision to organise the APC National Convention in February 2022.

“Unless the CECPC has given itself the new responsibility of being the political and electoral undertaker of the APC, it must stop promoting some subversive campaigns suggesting that it is undertaking ‘the immediate task of addressing contestations within the Party, litigations, fallouts of recently conducted Congresses and generally reposition the Party ahead of the National Convention.

Convention: APC Rebirth Group slams Tinubu, Umahi

Stakeholders of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC under the aegis of APC Rebirth Group have slammed the national leader of the party, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ebonyi state Governor, Dave Umahi, for declaring their interests to contest for the 2023 presidential election on the party’s platform without first seeking to address the destructive crisis that is currently rocking it

The group in a statement it issued Thursday in Abuja, argued that there has to be a party first before anyone can talk of personal ambition, saying with a weak platform as the APC currently is, such presidential aspirations are at best, dead on arrival.

The statement, which was signed by the group’s spokesman, Engr. Aliyu Audu noted that while the aspirants have their constitutional rights and are at liberty to declare their aspirations at any given time, “the people are however concerned with the present situation of the Party, the very platform these aspirants want to use to realize their ambitions, but which has been riddled with glaring challenges that portend danger ahead of the 2023 general election”.

“We then wonder whether it would not be more expedient and appropriate to first ensure that our house is well secured and ready for the ambitions of these aspirants?

“For more than a year, stakeholders and members of the party have raised concerned and complained of the glaring mismanagement of the party by individuals who are bent on destroying the progressive platform upon which so many Nigerians invested their hopes for the restitution of our country.

“The APC Rebirth on the other hand has been on a constant campaign of drawing the attention of party leaders and members to the imminent danger ahead if some powerful but few individuals in control of the party machinery are allowed to continue to pilot affairs based on their selfish agenda, especially judging from the failures the party recorded in the recent past and the attendant consequences.

“In these campaigns, we adopted as our fundamental objective, the return of the APC to the very principles and ideals upon which it was founded and this we drummed to everyone’s consciousness using various occasions and platforms. Apart from an open letter written to the President, personal letters were written and delivered to critical leaders of the party asking for their urgent intervention in addressing the numerous concerns raised and reigniting the confidence of party members whose confidence were beginning to hit the rocks. We also held press conferences and released statements to express this certain concerns.

“In all of our outings, we were not shy to posit that the Buni-led Caretaker Committee was not ready to conduct the much expected national convention and thus want every hand on deck to ensure that they do not succeed in their plot to hold on to the party for whatever reason.

“While events of the past have vindicated all of the concerns we raised, it is to our dismay that majority of the party leaders kept mute over all that was happening in the party, and when some of them finally decided to speak, it was only to announce their personal ambition of wanting to become the Presidential flagbearer of the party.

“We have all along hoped that many of the party leaders would break their odious silence on what was appearing like a deliberate plan to turn the APC into an exclusive club of few individuals who have continued to do as they pleas with the party, ignoring every plea for retrospection and a return to the foundational principles that was the attraction for many Nigerians who have all along supported the Party in the hope that the members would play a different brand of politics.

“If the leaders have been in slumber all these while, you would expect that the public acknowledgment of President Muhammadu Buhari of the crisis in the party and his warning of a possible loss to the opposition if things continue the way they are, will ideally jolt everyone from their sleep.

“Instead, silence has continued and campaigns for the highest office has began, we want to put it on record that their silence is no longer golden.

“The Party must be returned to the right path, and the earlier our leaders speak out about these issues, the earlier and better for not only the success of the party, but also their ambitions.

“It is for this concern, that we call on these aspirants that have so declared their intention to pursue their individual ambitions and also those who are yet to do so, to join us in the all important task of ensuring that our Party is secured and returned to the path of progressive idealism which was the foundation of this great Party.

“In our opinion, the first and probably the most important task at this point, is to ensure that the Party is not caught up in a potential risk of floodgate of litigation and disenchantment from members that may likely jeopardize the chances of the Party, and this huge risk can only be mitigated by ensuring the speedy conduct of the convention which will birth a risk free and legitimate Party officials”.