• Party Cautions against Unilateral Postponement of Congresses
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday 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 H.E. 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 H.E. 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 told the congress must be conducted in strict conformity
with the official APC Guidelines for State Congresses
(http://officialapcng.com/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).
Izunaso: “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.