8,453 delegates storm Abuja for APC national convention
….we’re not aware of any court case– Masari
By Jude Opara, Abuja
Abuja the capital of Nigeria is agog as about 8,453 delegates from all parts of the country arrive for the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) slated to take place this weekend.
This is as the Chairman of the National Convention Central Coordination Committee, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari allayed fears of anything that will stop the convention.
This is as some aggrieved members have reportedly instituted court cases to stop the convention.
According to Masari, the party has not received any court notice, adding that as a law abiding organization, they will respond to it if they get it.
Addressing a world press conference to herald the event, Masari explained that many people may not have understood the position of the party in zoning it’s National Working Committee (NWC) positions.
According to him, some people left the positions zoned to their own geopolitical zone and paid for forms meant for other zones and that is why they were not able to access the forms.
“We are not aware anybody has gone to court. We have not been served. I am sure you know we are a responsible party. If we are served, we will take notice of that. Can you pay for something that you don’t have? You can only hold something that you have.
“Like I said and I will repeat, APC is a responsible party in Nigeria. In line with federal character, all offices are zoned. If you come to buy form, you are buying for the positions zoned to your zone.
“When there is zoning in A, and you are in Z, you want to buy form in A, we suspect that you are only there to create confusion. So who will like confusion? The way our country is, the structures of the party are on zonal basis. The NWC members are distributed according to zones.
“So if you are contesting for an office that is not zoned to your zone, how can you say you are being democratic? We suspect this kind of people are interested maybe as agents to come and destroy our party which we will not agree. And I know Nigerians will not agree”.
Also speaking at the briefing, a member of the committee and Minister for Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris said already most of the party delegates are in Abuja.
He also said that the roads are very safe for the travelling delegates adding that so far security agencies have been on their toes to ensure that no negative story occurs.
“We are expecting a total number of 8, 453 delegates. This are the number of delegates that we are expecting to come from across the 36 states of the Federation to Abuja.
“On the question of the roads in Nigeria, and safety of members coming for the convention, I am not aware, all of you are coming from every part of the country. Our delegates are here. Members of the committee have travelled thus far. We have not recorded any incidence. And by God’s grace, we will not record any incidence throughout this convention and even beyond.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to ensuring that the entire infrastructure of this country is going to be revamped. And work is in progress. And we will continue in that direction. And this is what the APC stands for. We are going to have good infrastructure throughout the country for the benefits of all Nigerians”.
When asked to reveal the budget for the organization of the convention, Idris said; “We are still working. And I will assure you that by the time we finish, our budget has a style of adjustment mechanism. So we will continue to work. And at the end of the day, once we compile the budget, we will let you know.
“I want to assure you, nobody is being owed as far as this convention is concerned. This party is a very responsible party. Our budget is self adjustment mechanism to accommodate what we have and nobody is being owed uptill this point. And we don’t intend to owe anybody after the convention”.
Also at the event were the former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim and Minister of Aviation, Barr. Festus Keyamo amongst others.
