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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) may no longer hold its much-awaited national convention this year.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to finally fix the exact date of the convention at its meeting next Tuesday.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said it is practically impossible for the convention to hold anytime earlier than the first quarter of next year.
Judging by the party’s constitutional stipulation that it holds convention once every two years, at a date, venue and time to be recommended by the National Working Committee (NWC) and approved by the NEC, the ruling party has, thus, violated the rules of engagement.
Article 25 (A)(i) of the party 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 National Working Committee 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.”
The party’s constitution also provides that “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.”
Giving update on the build-up to the proposed NEC meeting scheduled for next week, and ultimately the convention, Abdullahi assured that the arrangements are still intact, and added that it would be a fruitful one.
“We are preparing for the NEC meeting, on October 31, 2017, which will be preceded by a caucus meeting on October 30 and we are very confident of having fruitful meetings. But, let me emphasise that there is nothing like governors working against anybody.
“Let me also say that we have not decided on the date of the convention because we have to hold NEC meeting, which will agree on a date and agenda of the convention. I can tell you that the convention is not going to take place until the first quarter of next year,” he disclosed.
On the apprehension surrounding the proposed convention, especially possible implosion and threats by some state governors to sack National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Abdullahi added: “There will not be any implosion or explosion because we are not going to invite Boko Haram to the convention.”
“I don’t know the issues around the party’s national convention and when you talk of 17 governors planing to impeach our national chairman, it is just a newspaper report people reacted to. We have come out to dismiss such report telling Nigerians that we are not aware of the 17 governors referred to. We made it clear that there would not have been anything like that…”
because they would have expressed such displeasure whether against the party or chairman in particular during the series of meetings we have had with them. I was opportune to attend all the meetings and there has never been anytime any of them stood up to say that they are not happy with him,” he said.
