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APC Convention in limbo as fresh crisis brews


 

The planned All Progressives Congress (APC) convention slated for February faces fresh uncertainty amidst power play by the governors.

On Sunday, the APC Governors under the umbrella of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) met and announced that the February date remains sacrosanct. However, no specific date has been mentioned.

Hours after the meeting, Salihu Lukman, the Director-General of the PGF resigned. The Ex-DG has been very vocal about the need to have a convention by February.

In an open letter on the 3rd of January, he warned that the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) goodwill is “about to be destroyed once it yields to the temptation of staying longer than February 2022.”

Four days ago, Lukman also criticised the announcement by Sen John Akpanudoedehe, the Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, that the consultation on the February date is ongoing.

The ex-DG in a statement said: “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.

“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.”

Almost two years after the removal of Adams Oshiomhole, the party has been unable to hold a National Convention.

After the exit of Oshiomhole, the governors had taken over with the appointment of Buni.

Even though the governors insist on February, a specific date has not been fixed.

Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is the Chairman of the Forum, reiterated that the Buni-led committee will be the one to announce the exact date.

Insiders within the party have raised concerns about the inability of the governors to fix a date. A member of the House of Representatives told newsmen off the record that the governors are holding the party to a ransom as a form of bargaining chip.

“Their DG who has been vocal on the need for convention suddenly resigns? You know he was forced out. This whole episode reeks of a lack of sincerity. For the governors, it is all about control, that is the reason they fought hard against the direct primaries in the electoral bill.

“They have captured the structure, but they are scared of convention where their influence will be reduced. This is not the PDP where the governors made all the decisions. We have structures that are equally formidable outside the PGF and a number of the governors are considering the next step for them as they are completing their second term,” he said.

The lawmaker added, “We at the National Assembly are watching; in the past three weeks, we have been with our people at the constituency, so we have the luxury of observing. If their plan is a consensus candidate agreed in their governors’ lodges, then they are mistaking big time.”

It was also gathered that the delay may be connected with the presidential race, as many of the governors want to either run as flag bearer or want to be on the ticket as running mate.

Governor Dave Umahi has declared his intention to run, while governors Yahaya Bello and Kayode Fayemi are believed to be interested in the ticket.

While the Buni-led caretaker committee has been able to attract three governors, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Bello Matewalle of Zamfara State and Ben Ayade of Cross River, however, the party is besieged by crisis across the country. Many of the States have parallel executive.

The caretaker committee was given 6 months to organize a convention, however, the timeline has been extended several times, and the convention is looking very dim.

It would be recalled that some of the party members like Kabir Marafa of Zamfara State had accused Governor Buni of destroying the party. Festus Keyamo had also raised issues on the legality of the committee after the Supreme Court ruling on Ondo State governorship election.

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