Barring unforeseen circumstances, the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to elect a new set of substantive national officers would be conducted in December.
In deference to the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari, to the Yobe state governor and Chairman APC Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, ( CECPC), Mallam Mai Mala Buni to his leadership to tidy up the arrangement for the Convention, the latter met with his colleagues in the Progressive Governors Forum on Wednesday night where he presented to them his tentative timetable for the ward, local, state and zonal Congresses.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting held at Asokoro, Abuja, Kebbi state governor and Chairman of the PGF, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the governors were satisfied with the performance of their colleague saddled with the administration of the party secretariat and his arrangement for the Congresses that would precede the national convention.
He said: “We took the report from the National Chairman of the Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State and we commended the Caretaker Committee under his able leadership for all the successes recorded by the party, particularly that on a daily basis people are joining the party. Even in the last few months, we had former governor, Gbenga Daniel, the governors of Ebonyi State and Cross River State, Dave Umahi and Ben Ayade, former Speaker, members of the National and State Assemblies, many illustrious citizens of Nigeria and we are still counting.
“This is a testament to the fact that APC is Nigeria’s preferred party. It is the party Nigerians will continue to aspire and continue to be proud of. We also appreciate the successes recorded, despite the constraints of a limited economy.
“We equally discussed the timetable for our congresses and we reviewed the security situation and acknowledged some of the challenges as well as the successes achieved.
“We also acknowledged the constraints of the economy and the successes that are being achieved.
“We considered the timetable and we have made some inputs particularly to comply with the Electoral Law and the party’s constitution. Remember we (PGF) are just one organ of the party (though a very important organ) but we advised the Caretaker Committee to ensure that they consult with all, so that at the end of the day, the final output will be such that all party members will be happy.”
Asked if a tentative date was proposed to President Buhari, the Kebbi state governor said, “there is a proposal before Mr President and once he approves it, the National Caretaker Committee will announce the date.”
The Chairman of the Forum of APC Governors further revealed that the governors equally considered the report of a Committee they set up to harmonise their position on the autonomy for legislature and judiciary.
“The forum commended the Committee, its work and outcome. We want to reinstate that as a forum we are committed to its implementation as agreed with all .”
Governors sighted at the meeting by Nigerian Tribune included Kayode Fayemi, Dave Umahi, Abdulrahman Abdul Razak, Abubakar Sani Bello, Gboyega Oyetola, governors of Ekiti, Ebonyi, Kwara, Niger and Osun states, respectively.
Others were Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; the host, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu; Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and deputy governor of Cross Rivers State, Professor Ivara Esu, who represented Governor Ben Ayade.
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