Membership registration/revalidation: APC moves to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of national convention

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday began moves to reconcile aggrieved members of the party who had issues with its ongoing nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise, as it inaugurated an eighteen man appeal Committee to receive complaints from party members.

Recall that since the party commenced the nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise, some States, including Kwara, Rivers, among others, have had issues regarding the exercise, even as some party faithful have expressed concerns that some Governors and other leaders of the party are interested in using the opportunity to delist their opponents at their respective states.

Inaugurating the Appeal Committee, the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, who was represented by the National Secretary of the CECPC, John James Akpanudoedehe, warned the Appeal Committee that if the party fails in the nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise, the proposed national convention will also fail.

To this end, Buni charged the committee to be fair to all complainants, emphasising that the activities of the committee will roboff on the peaceful and transparent conduct of the party’s national convention scheduled for June.

He said “This exercise is the foundation for a lot of activities; the delegates, congresses, nominations and, even the National Convention. So we must get it right. Party members must own the processes. The registration exercise must end on a high note.”

He further assured party members that the on-going membership registration, revalidation and update exercise was not to oppress or sideline any member out of the party.

“This party is for all Nigerians, therefore we must show not only by words, but by actions that there is no attempt to; exclude, oppress, sideline nor freeze-out anybody in the party.

“We trust in your strength of character, your integrity and your capacity to be fair in your dealings to those who approach your committee,” the Chairman said.

Buni then directed the appeal Committee to help engender cohesion, build trust and confidence in their assignment.

Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Farouk Adamu, thanked the caretaker committee for finding them worthy of the noble assignment, while promising to discharge their duty with justice and equity.

Members of the committee are Oyo State Governorship aspirant in 2019, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Emperor Chris Baywood, Sen. Khairat Gwadabe, Alh. Misha’u Lawan Didi, Hauwa Grema Mohammed, Sen. Ita Enang, Sen. John Owan Enoh and Hon. Ejike Njeze.

Others are  Abubakar Mohammed Danjuma, Amb. Jerry Sonny Ugokwe, Amb. Hassan Ardo, Barr. Mary Ekpere, Barr. Fola Vincent, Dabiu Gambari, Alh. Tijani  Siaka Alfa and Grace Idakwo and immediate past Deputy National Secretary of the party, Hon. Victor Giadom, who is to serve as Secretary.