APC caretaker committee may conduct congresses, convention next month

A member of the CECPC, who spoke to Sunday Tribune in confidence, however, expressed concern that the team was under pressure to proceed with the national convention despite the membership registration exercise being overwhelmed with logistic challenge in some states. The source revealed that the exercise has been concluded successfully in only 17 states of the federation.

“We are planning to print fresh registration materials for the affected states to placate aggrieved members.

“The governors were accused of hijacking the materials in desperate moves to arm-twist their opponents, particularly in states where governors are on their first tenure. “If we don’t do that, there will be volumes of petition that even the appeal committee will be overwhelmed,” he said.

The source disclosed further that the committee was looking at December for the national convention before it got wind of the presidential directive to stick to June. The party source, however, dismissed speculation that the interim leadership would roll out zoning arrangement for party and elective offices.

“We don’t have that brief. Our own is to organise the convention after the conduct of the congresses. To decide on zoning, there must be an enlarged meeting of the stakeholders with President Muhammadu Buhari presiding to decide on zoning. “We won’t overreach our- selves by taking a position on zoning without consulting the elders in the APC,” he said. But an aide of Governor Buni, when contacted, however, denied knowledge of the plan to hold the national convention next month.

 “I am not aware of that,” he told Sunday Tribune. In line with the stance of President Buhari, further investigation revealed that the CECPC is expected to meet during the week to ratify a proposed timetable and the list of members of various committees prepared by the national secretary, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, for the conduct of the congresses and the convention.
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