APC registration: Don’t force anybody to join ― Akeredolu

Ahead of the nationwide registration and revalidation exercise of the All Progressive Congress (APC) across the country, the Ondo State governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, asked leaders and members of the party not to beg or force anyone to join the party.

Akeredolu who stated this during the party’s stakeholders meeting in Akure, ahead of the exercise schedule to start today, said only financially committed members should be registered, saying, only those who will be financially committed to the party should be allowed to register as members.

According to the governor, Akeredolu said that being a committed financial member of a party gives one sense of belonging and contribute to the development of the party.

Akeredolu expressed optimism that the exercise will be hitch-free and advised the party leadership to see to the workability of online registration for members during the next exercise.

He said: “There’s no basis to register people who will not be committed to the party through financial contributions.

“A time will come when you’ll not be able to run the party if you refuse to pay membership dues. Don’t force people to join you, let them join the party willingly.”

“If you cannot pay dues into the party don’t join our party. If you’re a financial member of the party, you’ll have the same rights with those who pay their dues.

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“I want to beg all of us, let us be concerned about the quality and not quantity. Lure people who can contribute meaningfully into the party and go after people with APC’s interest.

“I pray that we do this one better. Maybe after this physical registration, we can now register online.”

While speaking on behalf of the committee, the Secretary, Hon Taiwo Olatubosun, said the exercise which will afford new members to join APC will be ward-based as he stressed that it will be a continuous exercise.

He disclosed that all the materials needed for the exercise had been received and intact and said “the assignment is basically ward-based. At every unit, there will be three Registration Officers. Each ward will have a Supervisor as well as each local government.”

He noted that the party had in the last few years received millions of politicians into the party while some members had left the party too and said many of the new entrants have not been registered.

“Similarly, it will afford some youths who have attained the age of 18 years and above and willing to join the party to be registered. The registration and revalidation exercise, therefore, provides the opportunity for both new and old members to register and update their membership in the party.

The Caretaker Chairman of the party in the state, Ade Adetimehin stated that the exercise will go a long way to strengthen the party.

Adetimehin, however, disclosed that the party leadership in the state have commenced the process of putting in place a new party’s secretariat in the state after the old one was torched during the End SARS protest.

He said two plots of land had been acquired while the construction of the new building would take off immediately.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

APC registration: Don’t force anybody to join ― Akeredolu