APC Caretaker Committee Meets Today, May Shift Convention Date

The All Progressives Congress APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee has summoned a crucial meeting of the committee Monday, to decide on a definite date for the party’s National Convention, Daily Independent has learned.

The meeting is equally expected to fix the timeline for ward, local government areas and State Congress Election for Anambra State, suspended by the party because of the November 6 Governorship election.

The meeting is already overshadowed by fears among Stakeholders of the party that the governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) may tweak the February date of the Convention yet again.

Already some shadowy stakeholders believed to be working for this purpose have recently claimed that the February date earlier proposed by Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF)and Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu will not be feasible after all.

Secretary of the CECPC, Senator John James Akpanudedehe hinted of this possibility last week, saying that no state would be left out at the coming Convention, adding that the party is poised to fix date for the Anambra State ward, LGA and State Congresses.

He also disclosed that the party will thereafter give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the statutory 21 days notice for the convention.

Amid the uncertainties, a caucus member of the All Progressives Congress APC and former governor of Cross River State, Chief Clement Ebri has warned against any adjustments to the proposed February date, saying that shifting the Convention would spell doom for the APC.

According to Chief Ebri
“No attempt should be made to take it beyond February. People have been so patient. They should also give a firm date.

“Pushing APC National Convention beyond February 2021 will spell doom for the party. Party members must not be taken for a ride. Enough is enough.”

Another chieftain of the party who for now do not want to be named said the Stakeholders in majority of the states are waiting and watching to see how the CECPC sort the myriad of disputes that have arisen from the convention.

He said those passing vote of confidence on the Caretaker Committee member are free to do so on what they had achieved but not on the intention to shift the Convention as that would be counterproductive.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi Little, Spokesman of The Concerned APC Stakeholders in a statement in response to story credited to the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu expressed hope that the rumored shift of the Convention date beyond February remains a rumor.

“It is our hope and believe that the Caretaker Committee will not employ any delay tactics that will result in the need to further postpone the national convention from the February 2022 date as it has done in the past where its six months mandate has extended to almost one and half year. The major, if not the only, task before the Caretaker Committee as of today is the conduct of the national convention and this must be pursued with all vigour and seriousness it deserves.

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“While we await the release of the full timetable for the national convention, the Concerned APC Stakeholders reiterate its earlier position that the upcoming national convention must not only be free, fair and transparent but must be seen to be so by all party men and women. The convention must be open, credible and devoid of any form of imposition in whatever guise. It is time the APC again subjects the emergence of its leadership to the will and consent of the majority of party members rather than the backdoor consensus arrangements of any bloc or group.

“The Concerned APC, in its avowed commitment to ensuring that our party is returned to its core progressive ideals and foundation, will continue to watch the processes leading to the convention closely and ensure that only individuals with requisite pedigree emerged as new leaders of the APC”

“As the Caretaker Committee meets tomorrow (Monday), we appeal to members of that body to resist further temptation to postpone National convention in the interest of larger party members.”