By Favour Goodness
There is a major crack in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as state chairmen of the party have accused their governors of using and dumping them at Abuja.
Chairman of the Forum of States Chairmen of the party and Bornu State Chairman, Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori, spoke over what seemed like a simmering dispute with the state governors during a meeting summoned by the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC.
Dalori noted that the chairmen were unhappy during the meeting at the party’s National Secretariat, saying, “We are very happy and we are proud of you people, CECPC, that are steering the party, we are proud of you.
“Why I said this is that the Caretaker Committee brought three executive governors into our party. But let me also declare my anger and my worry. Why I am saying this publicly, is because we, state chairmen, are not happy with some of our governors. They used the chairmen and dumped them.”
Earlier, APC national secretary, Senator Akpanudoedehe, had asked the state chairmen to take the forthcoming congresses important for the progress of the party.
Akpanudoedehe, who recalled some of the challenges suffered during the membership registration and revalidation exercise, warned that the chairmen that the party would not tolerate hoarding of forms from aspirants who may want to vie for any of the party’s elective offices.
His words, “As you are aware, the Congresses of our party will commence soon, it becomes pertinent that we brief you as a First-Line-Charge, on the details of the exercise and what is expected of you. On behalf of the CECPC, may I thank you for the work you’re doing in your states, especially with the membership registration and peace building.
“Although there are some of the states that we’ve received complaints about the handling of the registration exercise, we shall not generalize it and we’ll see how to prevent it from happening in this context.”
It is however, believed that, barring last minute disagreement, new leaders of the party from the ward to state levels may emerge through consensus at the forthcoming party congresses billed to start on July 31. Indications to this were given by Akpanudoehede, at the meeting with chairmen of state Caretaker Committees on the forthcoming congresses.
Addressing the chairmen, Akpanudoehede said, “As you are aware, the congresses of our party will commence soon… The party urges all stakeholders to encourage consensus arrangements for the emergence of party leaders at the ward, local government and state congresses,” noting, however, that the consensus option was preferred because the exercise “is a family affair.”
According to him, the adoption of the option also enjoys the party’s constitutional provision.
Akpanudoedehe, further noted that to achieve a hitch free congress, the local organizing committees and selection of ad hoc officials should be done in consultation with all the stakeholders in each state.
He also, urged them to be more committed, insisting that the conduct of congresses “is so important for the progress of this party and we must get it right.”
The Secretary asked the chairmen to ensure the success of the congresses, by making sure that the party leaders do not hoard nomination forms to all members, as the party would not tolerate such act.
