APC shifts dates for congresses, convention

- APC's national convention which was earlier scheduled for Monday, May 14, will be moved forward

- The national publicity secretary of the party, Bolaji Abdulahi, says this was as a result of the coming Ramadan fast

- This, however, came hours after President Buhari had reportedly urged governors of the party to support Adams Oshiomole as the next chairman of APC

Few hours after President Muhammadu Buhari urged some governors elected on the platform of the All progressives Congress (APC) to work for the emergence of former Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole, as the next chairman of the party, the APC has shifted earlier scheduled dates for congresses and convention.

Bolaji Abdulahi, the national publicity secretary of the party while addressing journalists after the meeting of the national working committee and governors of the party on Wednesday, April 26, claims the shift in dates was not as a result of some hidden motives but in consideration of the coming Muslim Ramadan.

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“We are aware that some governors have been making statements which we believe are giving the impression that we don’t intend to hold congresses in particular states.

“So the meeting was to emphasise to those governors that we want congresses in a very transparent manner and to ensure that the processes are free and fair,” he said.

The APC spokesman said the party has made it a matter of priority to conduct a rancour free congresses, hence, the reason for the party shifting the dates.

It was agreed that one of the major ways of avoiding that rancour is to ensure that the congresses are transparent to the majority of the people,” he said.

Going further, he said the national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, and the NWC has rejected efforts by some governors to influence committee’s list, insisting that it is the constitutional right of the leadership to decide who would come to their states to conduct the congresses, This Day reports.

“We made it clear to them that this is a constitutional matter and the constitution of the APC imposes the power to constitute the committees on the NWC only and that by Friday this week, the list of the congress committee members will be ready.

“There was also observation on the side of the governors about the timetable for the congresses and convention and the observation was that the timetable was too closely packed and that it does not leave much room for errors.

“The observation was that the timetable as currently constituted was determined because of the Ramadan. We want to be sensitive to the feelings of Muslims who will be fasting during Ramadan and we wanted to, as much as possible, avoid conducting any political activity during the period of Ramadan.

“There were other observations and so, there is the possibility that the timetable may be reviewed. That is not decided yet, but it was agreed that the NWC will take a second look at the timetable and see the possibility for adjustment because there are other issues,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the All Progressives Congress (APC) said President Muhammadu Buhari’s reported support for Adams Oshiomhole as chairman of the party was not binding.

APC chieftains in Benue state say PDP has nothing to offer on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng