Categories: News

Division In APC Amid Tenure elongation Impasse

There are conjectures that the interim leadership might be planning to stay put beyond the date it’s expected to leave office

A fissure has emerged in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over plans to extend the tenure of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).

The committee, led by Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, was constituted after the removal of National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, in 2020.

Although, the CECPC has been given the nod to continue its management of the party’s affairs till June 2021, however, there are conjectures that the interim leadership might be planning to stay put beyond date.

On Thursday, the party apprised the public of the extension of its nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise by three weeks.

It was alleged that the initial plan was to extend the exercise by six to eight weeks, but some elements in the party who are against the Buni-led team strongly opposed the move.

They stated that with the APC national convention tentatively slated for June, an additional two months was a ploy to extend the CECPC’s stint.

The imbroglio is engendered by the “reduced time frame” the National Secretary, John Akpan Udoedehe, announced in a statement.

Among the categories of party bigwigs against the convention holding anytime soon are governors who wield no power or influence on the party structure in their states.

Another group are of the belief that emergence of new national officers will expose the zoning arrangement the APC intends to adopt ahead of 2023.

The other category has those close to the current leadership and are seeking to retain their seats or aspire for political offices in the next general elections.

In a statement Friday night, the APC Forum of State Caretaker Chairmen debunked speculation of disunity in the party.

They disclosed that there was no bad blood between the forum and the CECPC.

Ali Buka-Dalori, the head and Borno Caretaker Committee Chairman, averred that no dissenting voice in the agreement to have the membership and revalidation process extended as it was an unanimous decision.

“We are happy the CECPC acceded to our pleas by granting a three-week extension to accommodate states requiring additional time to conclude the exercise and capture millions of Nigerians desirous of joining the APC.

“At no time during the meeting of APC state caretaker chairmen or in our briefing to media organisations was anything related to tenure elongation deliberated or mentioned.”

Buka-Dalori noted that the CECPC has achieved its mandate to reposition and bring unity to the ruling party.

“We will continue to support its efforts to ensure the completion of all the tasks assigned by the National Executive Committee (NEC) and further entrench the APC as a truly progressive political platform”, he said.