The midterm convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) fixed for this month by the John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) may be shelved, Nigerian Tribune can reveal authoritatively.
Findings revealed that the convention might be put on hold following the stance of the governors who expressed reservations that the NWC went public with the date for the convention without recourse to the National Executive Committee (NEC).
Nigerian Tribune checks revealed that Article 25 (A) (i) of the APC Constitution states that ‘’the national convention of the party shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the NWC and approved by the NEC, subject to the giving of the statutory notices to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and at least 14 days notice given to members eligible to attend.’’
Article 25(ii) also reads: “Without prejudice to Article 25(i) of this Constitution, the NEC may summon an emergency national convention at any time provided at least seven days notice of the meeting shall be given to all members eligible to attend.”
The governors, who were led to a meeting with the Odigie-Oyegun team by the Imo State governor and the chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, were peeved that the national chairman of the party also insisted that the convention would be non-elective without seeking the position of the NEC on the modalities for the convention.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the Muiz Banire-led committee set up by Chief Odigie-Oyegun to review the party’s constitution ahead the convention had since put on hold activities on the assignment.
Inaugurating the 10- man committee, Chief Odigie-Oyegun asked the Banire-led committee to look at the size of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and come up with recommendations to prune it.
He further demanded for a review of the party membership requirement.
A party source revealed that the NWC ‘’is in a quandary; they cannot stick to their scheduled date since the governors who are to fund the convention have kicked against it.’’
Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on phone, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, however, dismissed insinuation that the convention date would be shelved.
He said: “I don’t have any information that the convention will be shelved. We held a meeting last week and I raised the issue of the convention and it was manifestly confirmed that it will hold.”
“So, I don’t have any information to the contrary.”
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