• Party cautions against unilateral postponement of congresses
By Umar Muhammad Puma
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated 5-member State Congress Committees to conduct Congresses in different states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday.
Three-member committees were also inaugurated to entertain appeals that may arise from the State Congresses.
Some State Congress Chairmen are Pius Odubu (Adamawa); Gen. Danjuma Danbazzau (Taraba); Prince Austin Eweka (Kano); Sen. Domingo Obende (Niger); Sen. Jonathan Zwingina (Abia); Sen. Olugbenga Obadara (Delta); Sen. Uche Ekwunife (Lagos); Hon. Mathew Omegara (Ondo); H.E. Peter Obadan (Ogun); H.E. Abdullahi Gwarzo (Oyo) among others.
The Appeal committees have among others Chris Akoma as chairman of Ebonyi State; Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye (Rivers); Hon. Bashir Lado (Ogun); Alh. SAbubakar Maikudi (Bauchi); Amb. Jerry Ugog (Kano); Barr. Kogolo Peter (Imo).
APC National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso who inaugurated the committees on behalf of the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said the congress must be conducted in strict conformity with the official APC.
Izunaso said the State Congress Committees are expected to hold meetings with stakeholders in the respective states on Friday before Saturday’s nationwide Congresses to elect State executive committee which include the traditional 17-member State Working Committees.
The Organising Secretary urged the Congress Committees to ensure a free, fair, democratic and transparent process. He also warned against unilateral postponement of Sate Congresses without approval by the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
“Don’t deny anybody who has a payment teller a form. It is undemocratic… You don’t have the power to postpone the election. If you go to a State and you find out that it is impossible to conduct the election, you inform the NWC for approval. The National Convention is closeby, we want to conclude these processes as quickly as possible.”
For the Appeal Committees, Izunaso said every petition from individuals who contested elections must be entertained. He cautioned the Appeal Committees to gauge the security situation in their respective state in deciding where to hold Appeal sittings. He said the NWC has the final decision on Appeals.
“If the place is volatile for the Appeal Committee, and they cannot sit there, you can sit in Abuja.” Izunaso said.
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