By David Lawani, Abuja
Amid speculations that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended its National Convention slated for February, the party yesterday advised the public and its members to disregard such rumours, saying there is nothing to hold on to in it.
It was reported earlier yesterday that the party had suspended its planned February national convention to June. A source at the APC national secretariat told journalists in Abuja that the postponement was based on the crises affecting the party in some states.
ThisNigeria learnt that while congresses had yet to be conducted in Zamfara and Anambra states due to factionalisation, the party is still grappling to resolve crises in Cross River, Imo, Abia, Kano, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Rivers with parallel state executives.
Some states organised parallel state congresses which had thrown the party into crises.
But reacting swiftly to the allegation that the February convention had been shifted to June, National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Senator James Akpanudoedehe, in a statement titled: “Re: Suspension of APC National Convention,” said the date for the convention will be communicated through well-known official channels and not through sources.
He noted that the author of such misleading information has not done due diligence to know that he has only succeeded in creating more confusion for himself and his followers while thinking he is doing any harm to the party.
The statement read, “The general public is advised to completely disregard fake news on the reported suspension of the planned National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) till June, as reported by some media outlets.
“Dates for party activities such as meetings, primaries, congresses, and national conventions are communicated through well-known official channels and not through ‘sources’.
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“The faceless authors and sponsors of fake news on APC activities, in this case the planned National Convention are simply bent on causing confusion and fomenting crisis through misinformation. We should not enable them.”
Continuing, the party scribe reiterated, “As a focus-driven, process-oriented political party, the APC Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni will not be distracted by self-serving antics of these sponsors of fake news.
“The APC Caretaker Committee is already embarking on nationwide consultations with party stakeholders to prepare the ground for a rancour-free national convention. To this end, the sub-committee on budgeting and other substructures will be set up in due course.
“Finally, the party notes and appreciates the continued support of well-meaning members and leaders as the APC Caretaker Committee undertakes the immediate task of addressing contestations within the Party, litigations, fallouts of recently-conducted Congresses and generally reposition the Party ahead of the National Convention.”
ThisNigeria, however, learnt that the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has been divided with those supporting the February convention on one side and the others being led by Buni and PGF Chairman and Kebbi State Governor, Mr Atiku Bagudu, seeking a shift to June to enable the party conducts the presidential primary at the same time.
The PGF, which was to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, shelved the move because the President ravelled to Ogun State of an official engagement.
The meeting between the PGF and the President, it was learnt, has been scheduled to hold Thursday (today) to enable the party to take a definite position on some key issues including the conclusion of state congresses, date of the national convention, and reconcile the PGF with the caretaker committee.
