2019: APC reviews Electoral Act for party’s strategic interest

Ahead  2019 elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC), through the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), on Monday, commenced move to review the electoral act (amendment) bill 2015, as it affected its strategic interest.

This came just as the PGF tasked the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) to step up in addressing the issues affecting the party.

This came to fore at PGF expert session on Electoral Act (amendment) 2015, in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the co-chairman of PGF legislative programme and the Kastina State governor, Honourable Aminu Masari, called on the party leadership to consolidate the party.

But APC deputy national chairman, Mr. Segun Oni, who represented the national chairman, apologised on behalf of the party leadership and promised that steps were being taken to ensure frequent interaction with the lawmakers.

The governor, while asking the party leadership to step up,  said, “With due respect sir (Chief Segun Oni representative of the national chairman), the problems that are coming from the management of APC as regards the National Assembly, now we are facing challenges, we are in a trying time and we have to try to consolidate this party.

He added that, “what Professor Sam Egwu said is a reflection of what is happening. The management must solidify the party. With your experience, experience of the national chairman as a former governor and former permanent secretary, he has no reason to fail. You have credentials to succeed, if you want to exonerate yourself, put the right people in the right place. The national chairman is a former governor, you (Segun Oni) is a former governor, Lawal Shuaibu is a former senator. So, when you do good, we will say we were the ones who elected you there, but when you do bad, you are on your own.”

In his address, a member of the PGF Legislative Programme and an expert on Electoral Act amendment, Professor Egwu, said the party must be properly governed, saying “the party was properly governed before the last general election, but the table has turned around, I won’t suffer any damage for saying this.”

Citing example of Kogi State elections, Professor Egwu said, “Take Kogi for example, how can APC win election in 2019 when the late Audu has his own group, the late minister, Ocholi, has his own group and the present governor has his own.”