By Ayodele Oni
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), will still hold its congresses next month, going by feelers from the party’s Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
Chairman of the Committee, and Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni, was among dignitaries hosted on Monday at the Presidential villa, Abuja by President Muhamadu Buhari.
Details of the meeting were not made public, but the Secretary of CECPC, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, confirmed that the Committee was working towards a June date, but this would still be subjected to ratification by the leadership.
The Committee held an emergency meeting on Monday in Abuja, which centred mainly on the Convention.
The Committee, which was initially put in place for just six months after the sack of the former Governor of Edo state, Mr Adams Oshiomole and his team, has been shifting dates for the convention.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) had, many times criticized the inability of APC to conduct it’s Congress, blaming it on crisis.
Mr Akpanudoedehe, who confirmed that there has been anxiety among members of the party, explained that the CECPC has been able to weather the storm.
“I want to assure that there will be no crisis in our party in June. Convention can be done in June and congresses can start and end in June, but it all depends on what the leaders of this party agree on.
“This committee is honest and we have never lied to Nigerians, we can always fight and resolve at family level, we are aware that party members are desiring to hear from the committee.
“We have major stakeholders like the President, Vice President and governors among others. We have to consult so that when we are coming out, there will be no dissenting voice.
“We have lots of problems in the country, not only the national congress of the party.
“We have serious security issues like the agitations in the zones, we are very conscious of Nigeria as a country not only the congresses.”
The Secretary disclosed that other issue which came up at Monday’s meeting, was primaries for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council poll slated for February 2022, but later stepped down till later date.
He said 22 states have submitted outcome of the last registration exercise, embarked upon by the party while others were still compiling their figures.
