APC Governors support new National Convention date
Governors of the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday said they were in support of the party’s new date for its National Convention.
Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, revealed this after the Governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.
The APC on Monday had postponed its National Convention to March 26. It was earlier billed for February 26.
In the letter signed by the party’s National Secretary Sen. John Akpanudoedehe and Caretaker Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni reads: “This notice supersedes our earlier notice for National Convention referenced APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/22/14 this is predicated on the evaluation of our Party Constitution.”
The Governors had met on Monday evening but declined to comment on the postponed convention at a press briefing later.
“Until we finish the meeting with Mr. President, we will rather not comment on any timetable or logistics,” Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, said.
Delayed Convention
The APC’s delay in conducting a national convention may not be unrelated to internal party wrangling and factions in several states.
The party leadership had been quiet about the processes leading up to the convention and the reasons why such processes have failed to happen.
APC Governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on February 22, 2022. Bayo Omoboriowo/State House
APC Governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on February 22, 2022. Bayo Omoboriowo/State House
Dates of purchase and submission of forms by aspirants and their screening also elapsed without any formal communication by the party
The APC Governors last week had been slated to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over party issues, but the meeting couldn’t hold as the president had to travel to Belgium on an official assignment.
‘United Governors’
“There were differences among [APC] Governors over the timing of the Convention,” Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna said after Tuesday’s meeting, according to a series of tweets by presidential aide Tolu Ogunlesi. “This is what the media called ‘divided governors’.
“There’s no way you can have 22 Governors agreeing on every issue. You can have differences, but to call it division is taking it too far.
APC Governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on February 22, 2022. Bayo Omoboriowo/State House
APC Governors met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on February 22, 2022. Bayo Omoboriowo/State House
“But after our meeting last night and our briefing with PMB today, we are all on the same page. We have agreed on a simple, equitable, and fair zoning formula for all geopolitical zones. By God’s grace by March 26 we will hold the APC national convention.
“Let there be no doubt that the Progressive Governors are United in our resolve to ensure that the Peoples Destruction Party doesn’t come back to power.”