EXCEPT a middle ground is found in the burgeoning dispute between the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Lagos chapter of the party, a major crisis is likely to erupt in the party soon, Sunday Tribune learnt at the weekend.
At the heart of the disagreement, which also involves the Ogun State chapter, is the nationwide ward congress, scheduled for July 24. Incidentally, local government election is taking place in both states, which share geographical boundaries, on the said date, which will make it difficult for party members to participate in both exercises simultaneously.
At a meeting with caretaker chairmen of the state chapters on Thursday, the caretaker national leadership of the party, known as Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, reportedly announced that the dates listed for the congresses had been sealed.
At the meeting, Sunday Tribune learnt that Lagos chapter’s caretaker chairman, Honourable Tunde Balogun, called the attention of the national leadership to the clash in dates, but was reportedly waved off because there was no official correspondence from the state, calling Abuja’s attention to the pending council poll.
While the national body didn’t commit to a change in date, Balogun was said to have assured that a proper notification would be tabled before the national headquarters in days ahead. As of press time, findings showed he was yet to submit any official communication to the party in Abuja, notifying the Governor Mai Mala Buni’s leadership of the clash in dates. The leadership of the party in Ogun State is also expected to file a formal notice with the national body. Despite what appeared like a truce between the national body and the two states, the Buni committee went ahead on Friday to present the congress dates, including July 24, to the official leader of the party, President Muhammadu Buhari, who eventually approved the listed dates for the elective congresses.
With July 24 signed and sealed for all party members nationwide, Lagos and Ogun states are reportedly working around getting exemption from Abuja. Honourable Oluseye Oladejo, the publicity secretary of the party in Lagos, told Sunday Tribune last night that the state chapter was working around the difficult situation presented by the clash of dates.
He said, “yes, we are aware of the clash in the date for the ward congress and the council election. Lagos is not the only affected state. Ogun State is also conducting local government election same day.
“I don’t want to preempt LASIEC (Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, because they are in charge of the election. I am confident that the national leadership in Abuja will work around the clash and it will be resolved. Everything will go well,” he assured.
Head, Public Affairs, LASIEC, Mr Tope Ojo, told Sunday Tribune that the election would go on as scheduled, but would revert if there would be a change in the original plan. National Secretary of the party, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement on Friday, said President Buhari approved dates for the congresses, among other issues.
He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the review of the timelines available to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
“The president also approved the timetable for APC ward, local government and state congresses. Ward congresses will hold 24th July, 2021 followed by local government congresses on 14th August, 2021 and state congresses on 18th September, 2021.”
“For now, the election date stands and we will let you know if there is a change,” he said.
The tenure of the Buni team was also extended indefinitely, though a party stalwart informed Sunday Tribune that the national convention of the party, is already settled for early November by the frontline leaders.
The source explained that the party was trying to ensure that going forward, there would be at least two clear years between the party’s elective congresses/ national convention and convention for presidential primaries. This is to ensure that crises arising from the election of party officials are settled long before the party’s candidate for president is up for consideration. It was gathered that all factions in the Lagos chapter of the party are working towards amicable resolution of the clash in election and congress dates. Sunday Tribune further learnt that both the national leader of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu and Honourable Balogun are still in Abuja
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