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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed insinuations that the ruling party was panicky ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections over the ongoing automatic real-time electronic transmission of election results amendment before the National Assembly.
Speaking after the inauguration of APC National Assembly Legislative Aides Support Group (ANALAG), Director General of APC Support Group Council, Sadiq Jikta claimed that it was the opposition that should be panicking.
A coalition of civil society organisations had, on Monday, called on the National Assembly conference committee on Electoral Act Amendment Bill to adopt the House of Representatives version mandating electronic transmission of electoral results ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, when the Senate held an emergency plenary on Tuesday, the Red Chambers refused to mandate real-time e-transmission, opting instead for a controversial amendment that leaves the process to the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While reacting to the insinuations that APC was panicking, Jikta, during a parley with newsmen, said: “No, APC is not panicking. It is the opposition that are panicking because they feel APC being the party in power will muzzle power with them.
“We are doing everything transparently, and that’s why we’re giving a free playing ground for every party to participate. You know, in terms of this electronic transmission, it is left for the National Assembly to do their job.
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“We believe in whatever position the National Assembly comes up with, we are ready and prepared. The most important is the grassroots and we are concentrating on the grassroots mobilisation,” he said.
Speaking further, Jikta noted that the support group was also pushing for a seat at the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party ahead of the national convention.
He explained that though the constitution of the party didn’t capture support groups, he expressed hope that with the ongoing amendment of the party’s constitution, the support groups would be captured, being the backbone of the party.
He noted: “I think it’s an opportunity now, as the party has set up a constitutional review committee, they have gone up to all the six geopolitical zones for public hearing. So, we, the APC Support Group Council, have gone to one of the zones and made our presentation.”
Earlier, the National Coordinator, Ms. Ayoola Fakunle said it has never happened before in the history of the National Assembly that legislative aides come together to support their principals for reelection.
She noted that they had supported them by employing them and it was high time they gave back to them.
Fakunle noted: “Since we are in the State Assembly, Local Government Assembly and National Assembly, we can do a lot. We can move mountains for them and at the same time, our president, the father of the nation, is a former senator, we have every reason to make sure we support his re-election.”
