…Releases revised schedule of convention activities
By Ezeocha Nzeh
In what looked like a dramatic U – turn the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has again announced March 26, 2022, as new date for its much awaited National Convention
The new date was announced barely eight hours after the party had forwarded a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcing same date for its zonal congresses
APC had early Monday confirmed The AUTHORITY report last week that the planned February 26 National Convention may suffer postponement, following internal crisis that has rocked the party
The APC in a fresh letter addressed to INEC on Monday, notified the commission of a fresh process to another convention, beginning with its arrangement to conduct zonal congresses on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
In the notification letter to INEC, with notification code APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/22/21, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni and Sen John James Akpanudoedehe respectively, the ruling party leadership urged the electoral Commission to; “kindly arrange for your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly
Titled: “Notice for the conduct of zonal congresses”, the letter read: “The notice supersedes our earlier notice for National Convention referenced APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/22/14 this is predicated on the evaluation of our party constitution. .
“In furtherance to Article 85 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and compliance with Section 12:6 of our party Constitution, we hereby write to notify the Commission that our great party, the All Progressives Congress has scheduled to hold its Zonal Congresses on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
“Kindly arrange for your officials to monitor the exercise accordingly. While hoping to receive your cooperation, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem,” the notification letter read.
But in a dramatic twist, the APC Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), at the end of its meeting yesterday in Abuja said the National Convention will now hold on March 26, as against the zonal congresses, earlier notified INEC
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, CECPC secretary, senator John AkpanUdedehe stated that activities leading to the National Convention will commence on February 24 and climax on March 26 with the convention at the Eagle Square in Abuja
“After deliberation and agreement with the CECPC, we have agreed and approved that the activities of the national convention commence from the 24th of March and terminates on the 26th of March.
“The convention activities commence on the 24th of February and it will terminate at Eagles Square on the 26th of March.
“In between the convention, we have agreed to have zonal congresses” AkpanUdedehe stated
The party also in pursuant to Article 12.6 of the its constitution, released the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Zonal Congresses across the Six (6) Geo-
political Zones as follows: Thursday 24th February, 2022
Publication of Zonal Committees, Saturday 26th February, 2022
Meeting of Zonal Stakeholders
While sales of forms for Zonal positions will last from Monday 28 February to Thursday, 3rd March, Saturday 5th March, was fixed for
screening of zonal aspirants, just as Saturday 12th March, 2022 will now be date for zonal congresses
